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The Fenian Rising; The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper; Still a Bit of Snap in the Celery

Failure of 1867 rising was due to British infiltration and poor organisation; why keeping a diary can bring contentment and why the longhand form has survived the digital; and a lighthearted look at men growing old

The Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret, oath-bound society, was at the centre of preparations for the Rising. From left, in this posed studio portrait, are John Daly, Thomas Clarke and Seán MacDermott. Daly had taken in the 1867 Fenian uprising. MacDermott and Clarke were executed in 1916. Photograph: Risteard Mulcahy

Brian Maye
Sat Jan 20 2024 - 00:00

The Fenian Rising by Michael T Foy (History Press, €25)

The Fenians emerged from the failed Young Ireland uprising. Focused on the single goal of an independent Irish republic, they sought to mobilise every resource in Ireland and America to forcefully sever the English connection. Michael Doheny and John O’Mahony founded the Fenian Brotherhood in America and James Stephens the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland; this secret, oath-bound organisation became “the most enduring and successful revolutionary secret society in Europe”. The nine years between foundation and abortive 1867 rising are meticulously covered. The egotistical Stephens wanted unfettered control and the struggles between him and O’Mahony feature centrally in the narrative. The rising failed because of British infiltration and poor organisation, but the “Manchester Martyrs” aftermath galvanised all shades of Irish nationalism; Fenianism survived to stage the seminal 1916 Rising. Brian Maye

The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen (Profile Books, £25)

Thinking about notebooks caused Roland Allen to wonder about their connection to creativity, culture and industry; what they could tell about their owners; why keeping a diary brought contentment, and why the longhand form has survived the digital. This led to his exploring how and by whom notebooks had been invented, and their historical contribution. Wax tablets were Europe’s notebooks for 2,000 years. Then the blank ledger in medieval Italy transformed international trade and facilitated the artistic flowering of the Renaissance (there are many chapters on Italy). The invention of the logbook at sea contributed to exploration of new worlds. Famous painters, philosophers, scientists, poets, playwrights, novelists, musicians, politicians, travellers and others generated some of their greatest work in notebooks. A different, fascinating, entertaining, witty approach to writing cultural history. Brian Maye

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Still a Bit of Snap in the Celery by Marcus Berkmann (Abacus, £12.99)

In this memoir, Marcus Berkmann takes a lighthearted look at men growing old. What happens to the body isn’t nice (ears bigger, hairier but less effective; bags under eyes big enough to carry the shopping, etc), but there’s still hope: “My body hasn’t yet committed a major felony, but the misdemeanours are beginning to pile up.” Other issues considered are how to deal with the younger generation; changing notions of masculinity; attitudes to money, work and friends, and being invisible. As one gets older, friendship becomes even more important and one’s view of work may be summarised as “the purging of ambition”, one of the most satisfying and least expected symptoms of ageing. Memorable turns of phrase (“that catastrophic modern invention, the mirror”) abound in this perceptive, witty, relatable meditation. Brian Maye

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