An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List

579. The Irish War of Independence: Showdown in London (Part 4)

July 02, 2025

Description

What were the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed in December 1921, following negotiations between the UK and Sinn Féin? How was it received by the Irish people? What was the process by which...
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Books Referenced

The Riddle of the Sands

Author: Erskine Childers

Context:

Mentioned when describing Erskine Childers' background - he wrote this spy novel predicting the First World War before becoming an Irish nationalist and serving as secretary to the Irish delegation.

Fatal Path

Author: Ronan Fanning

Context:

Explicitly described as 'a brilliant book on all this' by Ronan Fanning, professor of history at University College Dublin, discussing the Irish treaty negotiations and criticizing the Irish delegation's preparation.

The Treaty: The Gripping Story of the Negotiations that Brought About Irish Independence

Author: Gretchen Freeman

Context:

Described as having written 'an actually incredibly readable book on the treaty' - a popular narrative about the treaty negotiations. The specific title is not mentioned but the book is referenced multiple times for its descriptions of the negotiations.