What do you think?
Rate this book
On Another Man's Wound
More than any other book of the period, On Another Man's Wound captures the feel of Ireland the way people lived, their attitudes and beliefs and paints brilliant cameo sketches of the great personalities of the Rising and the War. Like many of the Irish, O'Malley was largely indifferent to the attempts to establish an independent Ireland until the Easter Rising of 1916. As the fight progressed his feelings changed and he joined the Irish Republican Army."
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1936
48 people are currently reading
1002 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 6, 2010
The title of this book is taken from an old Ulster proverb It is easy to sleep on another man’s wound, and it details his life as an IRA soldier during the War of Independence between 1916 and 1921. He was a student in Dublin at the time of the 1916 Rising, and initially had no real feelings for the rebels. But as time passed he became more caught up in the Irish nationalist movement. He joined the Volunteers, later organised other companies, was taken prisoner, and eventually was appointed commander of the Second Southen, the 2nd largest division of the IRA.
This is a fascinating account of the war, showing how people from all backgrounds ended up on the same side. O’Malley’s family were supporters of Britain, like many other Dublin families they had a member in the British army; Ernie’s brother was an officer. A fact which helped him gain arms and ammunition for the Volunteers on occasion. It also shows the viciousness that is such a part of trying to put down an uprising, or insurrection. While he captured O’Malley used an assumed name, Bernard Stewart, but this didn’t save him from rough treatment and beatings. But at the same time he tells how many of the British officers were polite and fair to him. And he never shirks from telling about the violent acts he committed, such as the shooting dead of captured British officers.
“It’s a rotten job, this,” said a man with a Scotch accent. “But what can we do? I was out of work.” There was a difference in their tone of voice ; they dropped the official soldier manner. I had a glimpse of men who did not believe in what they were doing , but who would carry out their work thoroughly.
But this isn’t just an account of bloodshed and violence. As he travelled the countryside O’Malley came to appreciate the countryside, and he sets it all down in this book.
Trees thrusting upwards with added power, or bulking sideways ; they were arrogant at night, they filled the mind and they ruled the dark.
The style of writing is quite conversational. Almost as though O’Malley were telling the story out loud. And while this helps create a sense of atmosphere, it does on occasion jump in narrative and you have to stop and figure out exactly what happened. But for the most part this is a wonderfully well written account that offers a glimpse into a different mindset.
O’Malley went on to fight on the anti-treaty side during the civil war, and has another book detailing those years; The Singing Flame. I’ll have to see if I can lay my hands on it.
This is a fascinating account of the war, showing how people from all backgrounds ended up on the same side. O’Malley’s family were supporters of Britain, like many other Dublin families they had a member in the British army; Ernie’s brother was an officer. A fact which helped him gain arms and ammunition for the Volunteers on occasion. It also shows the viciousness that is such a part of trying to put down an uprising, or insurrection. While he captured O’Malley used an assumed name, Bernard Stewart, but this didn’t save him from rough treatment and beatings. But at the same time he tells how many of the British officers were polite and fair to him. And he never shirks from telling about the violent acts he committed, such as the shooting dead of captured British officers.
“It’s a rotten job, this,” said a man with a Scotch accent. “But what can we do? I was out of work.” There was a difference in their tone of voice ; they dropped the official soldier manner. I had a glimpse of men who did not believe in what they were doing , but who would carry out their work thoroughly.
But this isn’t just an account of bloodshed and violence. As he travelled the countryside O’Malley came to appreciate the countryside, and he sets it all down in this book.
Trees thrusting upwards with added power, or bulking sideways ; they were arrogant at night, they filled the mind and they ruled the dark.
The style of writing is quite conversational. Almost as though O’Malley were telling the story out loud. And while this helps create a sense of atmosphere, it does on occasion jump in narrative and you have to stop and figure out exactly what happened. But for the most part this is a wonderfully well written account that offers a glimpse into a different mindset.
O’Malley went on to fight on the anti-treaty side during the civil war, and has another book detailing those years; The Singing Flame. I’ll have to see if I can lay my hands on it.
June 20, 2015
Several months ago I took a course through Future Learn on Ireland from 1906 to 1923. This particular book was highly recommended by several people taking the course. I bought the book and was immersed in Ernie O'Malley's Personal History of Ireland's War of Independence - the war against Great Britain. This book covers only that particular time of Irish history. O'Malley became very well known in this conflict, reported to Michael Collins, and later was put in charge of all the IRA groups in southern Ireland. It is very detailed without being boring, and discusses all the maneuvers the IRA had to go through, and what they were up against with the British military, the Black and Tans, and the police.
O'Malley also fought in the Civil War which began just after the above conflict was "settled". He was injured and captured and was the last Republican leader to be released in July 1924. The Treaty party had won, and O'Malley left his beloved Ireland, and went to Europe, then to the USA in New Mexico. In New Mexico, and then in Mexico and Peru, O'Malley wrote this book, which was published in New York and London in 1936. His book on the Irish Civil War, entitled The Singing Flame was published posthumously.
O'Malley also fought in the Civil War which began just after the above conflict was "settled". He was injured and captured and was the last Republican leader to be released in July 1924. The Treaty party had won, and O'Malley left his beloved Ireland, and went to Europe, then to the USA in New Mexico. In New Mexico, and then in Mexico and Peru, O'Malley wrote this book, which was published in New York and London in 1936. His book on the Irish Civil War, entitled The Singing Flame was published posthumously.
June 5, 2025
My god, nearly 2 months to finish this book. It’s really good, I just jumped off the reading game for longer than I’d like to admit. The rhythm of his prose was a bit hard for me, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
March 17, 2022
very different from other memoirs of the period such as dan breen's, tom barry's and others in that there's not a huge amount of military or operational detail; far more time is expended on o'malley's personal experiences, encounters poorer peasantry, the ways in which irish separatism has expressed itself through folk and oral culture, how o'malley met or got on with the big personalities of the period. in this sense its a far more literary document, which is a problem, because o'malley can't write and i found his ventures into poetic scenic reflections began to grate very quickly
August 13, 2017
An excellent memoir of a leading IRA commander in the war for independence from 1916 to 1922. Ernie describes hiking and cycling while on the run and organizing and leading brigades to fight the English. He recounts birds ad flowers, the changing seasons, the songs they sang, and volunteers who are outmanned and woefully deficient in weaponry. He comes across a British officer in a field but rather than shoot him down, he tells him to turn around and run. As the fighting intensifies, he does not hesitate ordering the execution of three captured officers in retaliation for the execution of IRA men. Successful raids on English barracks to replenish arms and ammo is cause for elation till they reach an overlook to the town to see the retribution taken by the Tans on the village who are burning the homes of suspected IRA sympathizer along with the village creamery which is essential for the Irish farmers in the area. The book ends with word of a cease fire which would lead to the ratification of the peace treaty and the end of the war of independence. Ernie's second book recounts his participation in the civil war in opposition to the failure to secure a united Ireland.
Ernie was pulled into war from college. He fought for seven years, was severely wounded twice and escaped from the high security Castle, the headquarters of British rule in Ireland.
O'Malley is the best writer t recount the IRA struggle for independence.
Ernie was pulled into war from college. He fought for seven years, was severely wounded twice and escaped from the high security Castle, the headquarters of British rule in Ireland.
O'Malley is the best writer t recount the IRA struggle for independence.
June 17, 2025
A valuable first-hand account of the Irish rebellion from before 1916 through to the Civil War, but so poorly written. For the most part, things that happened almost as a list: "Thomas Ashe died. Examinations were no longer of importance. There was a special mobilisation of the company. Men in the Volunteer reserve, who could not attend parades, were in the ranks. Diarmuid O'Hegarty inspected us...." Then pages and pages of high-minded rhapsodies: "Night noises; rustles in the bushes and tall grass followed by silence that seems more hushed, the curlew with its sound of mournful remembrance echoing to die away slowly, the barking of dogs disturbed by something I could not see, or attempts at conversation across the uplands, the drift of words coming out of the distance." Not at all as straightforward as the Tom Barry and Dan Breen accounts nor with anything like their brio.
November 23, 2023
An absolute gem of Irish history
Reads like a lilting novel. Intimate. Heartfelt. Excellent read. History as lived and written by a poet. A. Use read for anyone else interested in Irirsh history or culture.
Reads like a lilting novel. Intimate. Heartfelt. Excellent read. History as lived and written by a poet. A. Use read for anyone else interested in Irirsh history or culture.
January 2, 2018
Moving first hand account of the battle in Ireland. Well written, historically accurate and compelling.
December 31, 2018
The fact that this book was out of print for so long here in the States is, though unsurprising, an absolutely shameful fucking disgrace. [more to follow...]
March 15, 2019
One of the best books that I have read. S must for everyone of Irish decent. Know your history.
February 20, 2020
A beautifully written, clever, fun and daring account of one man's considerable contribution to Irelands freedom struggle.
July 31, 2021
First hand account of the war for independence
December 22, 2021
I can't believe I've lived in Ireland most of my life without hearing about his book. Probably the best book on Ireland's war of independence.
May 29, 2024
this moved me. may all those oppressed by colonialism find freedom from their oppressors 🙏🇮🇪
September 1, 2025
Fantastic firsthand account of a medical student at Trinity College who participated in the Easter Rising (1916) and served as an officer in the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921).
June 20, 2018
This book could’ve used a good editor.
May 23, 2025
A fascinating memoir from a military leader involved in the Irish War of Independence. Starting as an apolitical medical student, like many others he was radicalised by the events and subsequent executions following the Easter Rising.
He seems to have been a no-nonsense guy, supervising and training various brigades around the country, including a lot in Munster. Not particularly liked by the men, but seems to have been effective.
I found it interesting the level of support that the IRA and the Dail got from local communities - no shortages of houses to sleep in or hide out in. Eventually local Councils would stop paying the taxes to the Crown and would start paying the Dail.
Semi-mythical characters like Michael Collins are described like colleagues rather than legends.
The IRA were heavily out-gunned, but managed to import arms from the US or raid them from local British barracks.
The author was captured and imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol for months, managing to escape and continue on his military work. While imprisoned he was badly beaten.
There is a scene towards the end where he and some of the brigade he is commanding execute three British soldiers. Treated as an unfortunate aspect of war. The soldiers are told they can write letters to loved ones and as long as the y promise not to reveal anything militarily important they can seal the letters themselves.
The IRA almost act as individual cells at times. While there is a central administration, which the author is intimately involved in, the standard varies from group to group in terms of arms, training, following commands…etc
Like most historical books, there are so many depictions of events, names, dates, places that you can never remember half of it , but you do get the vibe of the time (unless you have a good memory).
There is only about a page given to the signing of the treaty. The author basically reserves judgement. He has another book which covers the subsequent civil war which I am looking forward to reading at some stage.
He seems to have been a no-nonsense guy, supervising and training various brigades around the country, including a lot in Munster. Not particularly liked by the men, but seems to have been effective.
I found it interesting the level of support that the IRA and the Dail got from local communities - no shortages of houses to sleep in or hide out in. Eventually local Councils would stop paying the taxes to the Crown and would start paying the Dail.
Semi-mythical characters like Michael Collins are described like colleagues rather than legends.
The IRA were heavily out-gunned, but managed to import arms from the US or raid them from local British barracks.
The author was captured and imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol for months, managing to escape and continue on his military work. While imprisoned he was badly beaten.
There is a scene towards the end where he and some of the brigade he is commanding execute three British soldiers. Treated as an unfortunate aspect of war. The soldiers are told they can write letters to loved ones and as long as the y promise not to reveal anything militarily important they can seal the letters themselves.
The IRA almost act as individual cells at times. While there is a central administration, which the author is intimately involved in, the standard varies from group to group in terms of arms, training, following commands…etc
Like most historical books, there are so many depictions of events, names, dates, places that you can never remember half of it , but you do get the vibe of the time (unless you have a good memory).
There is only about a page given to the signing of the treaty. The author basically reserves judgement. He has another book which covers the subsequent civil war which I am looking forward to reading at some stage.
November 5, 2010
i read this book because john dolan talked about it in his review of "Imperial Reckoning" on the exile dot com website. it's pretty memoir of a fairly well off mostly anglicized apolitical dude who gets radicalized by the heavy handed treatment of the irish during the easter uprising in 1916. our hero earnie joins the irish volunteers [later the IRA] and becomes a higher up organizational leader who trains officers in tactices, weapon handling, command, a one man military college basically. fun things about this book are a) ireland had been official unarmed and demilitarized since the time of elizabeth i and the colonisation of ulster [that's like, 500 years dudes], so they were building an ad hoc army + republic from scratch, using smuggled german weapons and whatever they could steal from the british in raids, a largely rural and pre-industrialized population fighting against the largest economic, industrial and military superpower at the time, cool. b) weird narrative bits like our boy earnie or "earnan" in gaelic riding around the irish countryside from county to county by bike, with his trenchcoat stuffed with military manuals, notebooks, weapons, ammo, whatever, contemplating nature and falling off his bike like a beckett character instead of a young man in a country at war, also cool.
if you don't have some grounding in the history tho or a general idea of the shape of events, his narrative can be a bit confusing, oh well. nice book tho imo.
if you don't have some grounding in the history tho or a general idea of the shape of events, his narrative can be a bit confusing, oh well. nice book tho imo.
March 17, 2025
A riveting and eloquently written memoir which provides a wonderfully vivid insight into western Irish life, thinking & manner at the turn of the last century. An important first hand account of the period around the rising and the civil war. Essential reading for any Historian.
June 25, 2022
Far more detailed than other accounts of this period that I have read. However, very insightful and has been put to good use by several historians and directors. I would consider reading the books which followed after by the same author.
July 6, 2009
this is a first hand account of the Easter Rising by one who was there and NOT a rebel...at first. It is absolutely riveting
October 2, 2016
A great book by a very intelligent and insightful man. You'll learn more about early 20th century Ireland from it than from a box load of others.
Well-written and gripping.
Well-written and gripping.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews