Last Words: Letters and Statements of the Leaders Executed After the Rising at Easter, 1916

by Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn

1971. No Edition Remarks. 217 pages. No dust jacket. Black cloth with gilt lettering. Black and white photographic plates. Light thumb marking, foxing and tanning to pages. More prominent to text block edges, pastedowns and free endpapers. Heavy annotations, underlining and marginalia in pen throughout; text remains unaffected. Moderate cracking to gutters causing some looseness to binding but pages remain attached. Boards have minor corner bumping and edgewear with mild staining, tanning and scuffing overall. Spine has light tanning with soft chipping and crushing to ends. Lettering remains bright and clear. Book has a slight forward lean.

Genres: History, Irish Literature, Nonfiction

217 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Sophie (RedheadReading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting way to get a sense of some of the key members of the Easter Rising as individuals, rather than abstract figures, and to get an insight into each person's motivation. For example, you can see in Patrick Pearse's letters his deep Catholic faith (almost viewing himself as a necessary blood sacrifice) and that he is looking forward, asking for poems to be printed. Others are much more concerned with the immediate present, for example paying off debts or requesting prayers and mass in their name. Sometimes it was deeply sad, especially reading the farewell letters to wives or family members. I think this would be better suited to someone who already has a passing knowledge of the Easter Rising. Although background is given on each person and their role in the Rising, if you are not familiar with the events and names involved then it might not be the most accessible start point, as that's not the intention of the author.

[A. Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a carefully compiled collection of official and personal documents concerning the sixteen Irishmen executed after the Easter Rising 1916. For each, there are details about the orders they gave, their actions, the surrender, plus intimate matters, including last visits by wives, mothers, sisters, brothers, final letters, statements from the priests who attended them in their cells and at the executions. The book is very methodically arranged, and what I found most interesting about it is that, while it could be a simple pile of artifacts, it both informs and compels. A reader can envision the march to surrender at the top of O'Connell Street, the night spent in the open as prisoners, the sobbing when the order to surrender comes. In 2016 many sealed documents will be released by the British government, and no doubt will resolve many unanswered questions posed in the book. It doesn't end up sounding like strident propaganda. It is a simple description, in most cases, and it doesn't need embellishment. And the farewells are humbling and moving. Padraig Pearse, President of the Provisional Government, wrote to his mother, "I will call to you in my heart at the last moment." Roger Casement, a non-combatant, wrote, "I feel just as if they were going to kill a boy. For I feel like a boy--and my hands so free from blood and my heart always so compassionate and pitiful that I cannot comprehend how anyone wants to hang me." I began to read this book because I felt it my responsibility to know, but I continued reading because I wanted to know and because what I read made me care more than I already cared.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those interested in either Irish history or social justice or both - this is an interesting read. It was very eerie to read the last words of the leaders who were executed. It felt very personal and made me think about my own feelings of death. I would have liked to have seen some additional information on the lives of each of the men and where they came from. I would have also liked to have seen a translation of the Gaelic writings.