Hope and History (B)

Description

The unique inside story, revealing the truth behind the headlines of how thepeace process was begun and how it was brought to fruition. Gerry Adams has brought his revolutionary movement on an extraordinaryjourney from armed insurrection to active participation in government. An author as well as an activist, he brings a vivid sense of immediacy and awriter's understanding of narrative to this story of the triumph of hope inwhat was long considered an intractable bloody conflict. He conveys thetensions of the peace process, the sense of teetering on the brink, and he hasa sharp eye and acute ear for the more humorous foibles of political alliesand enemies alike. Both a personal and a political narrative, Hope and History continues thestory begun in Before the Dawn (Heinemann/Brandon 1996), from theturning point of the republican hunger strikes. He reveals previouslyunpublished details of the secret origins of the peace process; covert talksbetween Republicans and the British government; the Irish-American roleand meetings in the White House; the South African role; differences withinthe Republican movement and the emergence of "dissidents"; thebreakdown of the first IRA cessation; the final negotiations: what was agreedand what was promised. He paints revealing portraits of the other leading characters in the dramathat was acted out through ceasefires and stand-offs, discussions andconfrontations. Amongst these are Tony Blair, Mo Mowlam, MartinMcGuinness, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Jean Kennedy Smith, David Trimble,John Hume Nelson Mandela and George Mitchell.