Description
A journalist from an English gentry background, Ewart (1892-1923) toured Ireland just as his wartime novel Way of Revelation was becoming a best seller. He interviewed people about the volatile political conflict over Irish independence and life during the ongoing Civil War. The chapters include politics in Dublin, talks with southern unionists, soldiers and the Black and Tans, talks in Limerick, glimpse into an underworld, the gates of Ulster, and Belfast. This edition includes notes, but no index. the 1922 edition was published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, London and New York. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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In "A Journey in Ireland 1921", originally published in 1922, Ewart relates memories of his journey of April and May 1921. He interviews prominent figures ranging from the Dublin Castle spin-doctor Basil Clarke, Sinn Fein activists in Cork and Limerick to Southern Unionists, former Home Rule MPs and the writer and commentator AE (George Russell). His attempt at a walking tour between Cork and Belfast led to his being interrogated both by British forces and by the IRA; his account ends with a description of Ulster Unionist public meetings addressed by James Craig and Dawson Bates as the Northern Ireland parliament and government were about to come into existence.A meticulous and intelligent observer, Ewart finds himself caught between fellow feeling for embattled British forces and dismayed at the state to which Ireland had been reduced. His account provides a striking pen-portrait of Ireland in the last stages of the War of Independence.
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