The Dough Boys

by Patrick MacGill

The Dough Boys is a novel written by Patrick MacGill and published in 1918. The story is set during World War I and follows the experiences of a group of young soldiers from Ireland who join the British Army to fight in the war. The title of the book refers to the nickname given to American soldiers who fought in the war, but in this case, it is used to describe the Irish soldiers who were also part of the Allied forces.The novel is narrated by Private Johnnie, one of the soldiers in the group, and it provides a vivid and realistic portrayal of the horrors of war. The soldiers are sent to the Western Front and face the brutal realities of trench warfare, including the constant threat of enemy artillery fire, gas attacks, and hand-to-hand combat.Throughout the book, the soldiers struggle to maintain their courage and humanity in the face of the brutalities of war. They form close bonds with each other and find ways to support and comfort each other in the midst of the chaos and destruction around them.The Dough Boys is a powerful and moving novel that provides a unique perspective on World War I. It captures the experiences of Irish soldiers who fought alongside their British and American counterparts, and it offers a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by all those who served in the war.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

308 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Patrick MacGill was an Irish journalist, poet and novelist, known as "The Navvy Poet" because he had worked as a navvy before he began writing.

MacGill was born in Glenties, County Donegal. A statue in his honour is on the bridge where the main street crosses the river in Glenties.

During the First World War, MacGill served with the London Irish Rifles (1/18th Battalion, The London Regiment) and was wounded at the Battle of Loos on 28 October 1915.

MacGill wrote a memoir-type novel called Children of the Dead End.

In early 2008, a docu-drama starring Stephen Rea was made about the life of Patrick MacGill. One of the film's locations was the boathouse of Edinburgh Canal Society at Edinburgh on the Union Canal, and one of its rowing boats.

An annual literary summer school is held in Glenties in mid July each year in his honour.