Life

Book reviews

BOOK OF THE WEEK Terence O'Neill by Marc Mulholland.

Published by UCD Press Books as part of the Historical Association of Ireland, Life and Times New Series, priced £14. www.ucdpress.ie.

When Terence O'Neill came to power in 1963 he had a bold plan to "transform the face Ulster". His ambitious blueprint ultimately fell short in the years after he rose to become the leader of unionism in the north.

After over four decades of conflict, many significant figures in local politics have largely been sidelined. But O'Neill's contribution endures despite the passage of time. Marc Mulholland's study aims to mark his place in history.

Accessible and informative, it succeeds in painting a picture of O'Neill, a former prime minister of Northern Ireland, to both the scholar and the general reader. O'Neill was fiercely proud of his Ulster Protestant heritage as well as his connections with the ancient Gaelic clan of O'Neill.

With the benefit of hindsight it can be said he was clearly ahead of his time.

As the Troubles loomed O'Neill was meeting taoisigh and attempting to "end the long cross-border cold war". His efforts ultimately plunged his own Ulster Unionist Party into crisis and he was denounced as a traitor by Ian Paisley.

As time would reveal, the former DUP leader eventually went further than O'Neill could ever have imagined as the current peace process sprung to life.

When the civil rights movement took to the streets in 1968 O'Neill warned: "It is a short step from the throwing of paving stones to the laying of tombstones". Mulholland provides a window into O'Neill's early years and his rise to the top seat at Stormont.

His battles with Paisley and his journey into the Troubles are also examined.

Connla Young

Aung San Suu Kyi: A Portrait In Words And Pictures by Christophe Loviny is published in hardback by Hardie Grant Books, priced £14.99. "The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear."

It's a bold and deeply powerful statement to start a book with but it's a necessary one given that the quote is attributed to dignified political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi. The inspirational Burmese human rights activist spent the best part of two decades under house arrest for opposing her country's military regime and this photo-led book provides an introduction to the sacrifices she has made along the way, including being separated from her sons and late husband.

While Aung San Suu Kyi's inspiring story could fill many tomes, this book sticks to the bare bones of her life and is not one for those looking for an in-depth analysis.

This isn't a thorough examination of Suu Kyi's life but it's a great starting point for those wanting to know a little bit more.

And ultimately, the more people who know about Aung San Suu Kyi and the plight of the Burmese people, the better.