Shannon: A Novel of Ireland

Shannon: A Novel of Ireland – by Frank Delaney

Yes, this book is definitely a ‘novel of Ireland’ as its title implies.  The same is true with the one other book that I have read by this author titled (obviously) ‘Ireland’.  It’s apparent that author Frank Delaney has a soft spot in his heart for this country, and this is actually an advantage to the reader since Delaney makes it so easy for us to virtually travel to the fabled Emerald Isle and bask in its many descriptive beauties.  We fall in love with the country even though we may have never actually traveled there.

The year is 1922 and our focus is an American traveling abroad; a priest named Robert Shannon.  Father Shannon was a chaplain during World War I and, like many, he physically survived, but his psyche became permanently damaged with PTSD, or what was then termed “Shell Shock”.  His monsignor in Boston suggests a trip to Shannon’s native Ireland in search of his family history.  This, the monsignor believes, just might start the young priest on a load road to recovery.

Since the time is 1922, customs allow the elder priest to dictate several letters to the people in places in Ireland where Father Shannon will eventually journey.  This means that folks will be on the lookout for a wandering American and be able to open their doors and their hearts to aid the priest in his healing process.  The location for most of the travels in Ireland is up the Shannon river, which may or may not be named after the same namesake as the young priest. But, it’s as good a start as anywhere.  So Father Shannon begins his journey, and as he meets a slew of strangers, the majority are incredibly hospitable and allow Father Shannon to stay and eat with them as long as he would like.  This seems a fitting way to treat of man of God, after all.

The journey isn’t always pleasant.  There’s a civil war going on in Ireland, and although we read about small snippets of encounters, the bigger war is still going on in Father Shannon’s mind and in his soul.  It’s a very long healing process, and who knows if he can ever be completely healed.  Fortunately (and I hate to use that word) the great war had killed and maimed millions across Europe, so a case of ‘shell shock’ isn’t really much of an abnormality for the masses that Father Shannon meets along his travels.

There’s a bit more to the story as well.  It seems as though there’s a bit of an ulterior motive for the Boston Diocese for sending young Father Shannon out of the country.  I won’t get into the particulars, but the subplot actually helped the overall story.  After all, as beautiful as 1920’s Ireland is, there does need to be a bit more substance if a reader is going to stay interested throughout several hundred pages.

I thought this was a very rich and beautiful novel.  Had the story been changed with different events that would allow the tale to be told in ‘modern’ times, I’m not sure it would have worked.  Although I’ve never visited Ireland, I can’t believe that in today’s world, many would open their doors to a stranger from another continent, even if he was a man of the cloth.  To my knowledge, most if not all of the late Frank Delaney’s books take place, in some form, in the country of Ireland.  If that’s the case, I’m perfectly fine with it.  It’s always nice to find an author that has a slightly different niche that helps them stand out among their peers.  Taking the reader on a virtual journey to a beautiful foreign country worked out very well for me.  I thank the author for the magnificent trip.

Hirohito – Behind the Myth

Hirohito – Behind the Myth – by Edward Behr

It should be immediately be pointed out that this book really isn’t, in the strictest sense, a biography.  How does one write a biography of a Japanese emperor anyway?  These figureheads were in many ways similar to royalty, yet the Japanese legend argued that the lineage of their emperor could be traced all the way back to the Sun God (whoever that was).  So the Emperor and his family were treated with the utmost reverence and although they may have been rarely seen by their adoring populous, they certainly were never heard.  There was very strict protocol when dealing with the gods. 

So someone as protected as an emperor really doesn’t warrant too many details that can be weaved into something resembling a biography. This book is actually a challenge to the common myth of Emperor Hirohito’s role during World War II; the time that clearly served as the biggest blemish in the entire history of the nation.  

The common understanding of the nation of Japan during the first half of the twentieth century is that the small somewhat isolated Asiatic nation decided it was time to flex its muscle and compete with the big boys in neighboring Europe.  These nations were carving up the rest of the world and colonizing those whom they perceived as weaker, and Japan certainly wanted a seat at the table.  Japan brutally turned on its neighbor China in the 1930s which indirectly caused the U.S. to get involved in World War II.  Japan wasn’t any kinder to its Western rivals.  This is all background, understand. None of these presumptions are challenged in this book.

What IS challenged in this book, again, is the role of Hirohito behind the scenes.  Most historians tell us that Hirohito was so guarded behind his palace walls, that he wasn’t at all instrumental in Japan’s jingoistic land grabs, raping, and murdering. It was the fault of Japan’s nationalist and military leaders, we’re told. Actually, Hirohito is credited for aiding in the ending of World War II after the annihilations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  So in a land of tyrants, history tells us that at least Hirohito had a somewhat decent head on his shoulders in finally achieving some sort of peace. 

So author Edward Behr makes a very convincing argument that Emperor Hirohito was much more conniving than the world gave him credit.  He details many events, conversations, and rare second-hand tales that show that the supposed peace-loving godhead was actually all in favor of his nation achieving power and glory even if it was tantamount to ruthless butchering and conquering.  Sometime around 1943, though, many in the know in the nation of Japan realized that they were fighting a losing effort. What made this particular conflict more brutal than normal was that the Japanese culture simply couldn’t fathom the concept of ‘surrender’.  This is a nation that would gladly throw their children and elderly into the path of the enemy rather than admit defeat.  Even after the two atomic bombs are dropped, some diehards in power simply couldn’t fathom the notion of giving up.  Here is where the author does agree with most in that Hirohito does realize that it’s best to lay down weapons and face whatever atrocities their conquerors may inflict upon them.

Enter Douglas MacArthur who proves to be one of the most magnanimous conquers in the history of civilization.  Much of what is commonly known of Emperor Hirohito can be traced to MacArthur.  Some speculate that the general was aware that Hirohito wasn’t as squeaky as most perceived, but with the geopolitics of the world already radically shifting in the late 1940s, the argument could be made that MacArthur realized he needed a strong ally so close to communist Russia. So the Emperor is quickly forgiven by the western world, MacArthur begins a friendly occupation, and within a span of only a few years, Japan begins to rebuild from out of the ashes.  Could this have happened if Hirohito been thrown in front of a firing squad like many of the other Japanese war criminals?  Who knows? Hindsight tells us that things did, in fact, work out for the best.  The author probably agrees with this, but that still doesn’t mean that the truth prior to and during the war deserves to be hidden away.

This book was written in 1989, and I honestly don’t know how much of an impact that it had on how many people thought of Japan during World War II.  Sadly, my guess is many people in 1989 (and definitely 30 years later) really don’t know, nor do they care.  I doubt most people under 60 years of age could even identify who Emperor Hirohito was, nor his significance.  I really enjoyed the book.  It’s a tad on the ‘scholarly’ side – lots of big words and rambling pontifications.  There were many times when I wished I had a dictionary handy.  This book reminds me of one of those books that is required reading for a world history class one might take in college.  I don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s mainly an observation.

A good alternate look at a key figure during the most calamitous conflict in history that makes one ask some hard, necessary questions.

A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914-1918

A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914-1918 by G.J. Meyer

If one is looking for a detailed, yet concise and easy to understand book on World War I, look no further than G.J. Meyer’s comprehensive account.  I use the word ‘concise’ with a bit of apprehension. This book is over 800 pages. Yet World War I was a long, brutal war with many tales to be told – the who, the why, the what, etc.  So yes, it’s a thick detailed book, but very easy to read and appreciate.  I’ve read many history books, and many authors might be experts on their subject matter, but simply don’t know how to hold a reader’s attention for a lengthy amount of time.  You’ve experienced this as well I’m sure; maybe you had a college professor that was brilliant but never knew when to shut up when lecturing in the classroom.

So, yes, in many ways you could argue that this is a ‘Cliffs Notes’ account of the first world war, but there’s plenty here to keep you enthralled.  Notice I said ‘enthralled’ and not ‘enjoyed’. You’d have to be quite sadistic to ‘enjoy’ a book about an event with so much senseless carnage. But if learning history is your thing, this is a great introduction to what was then called, “The War to End All Wars”.

Part of the appeal of this book is that the author does tell a strict linear account of the entire conflict, yet most of the chapters have an ‘extra section’ tacked on to the end that talks about the different elements that educate the reader on “how” and “why” the world got into such a tumultuous turmoil in the first place.  These extra sections include everything from the backgrounds of each of the major countries involved to the introduction of chemical weapons.  From newfangled gadgets called ‘airplanes’ to the role of women in the war.  From the doomed Romanov family to Lawrence of Arabia. There’s a lot of interesting stuff here, and it’s all quite fascinating and educational.

Anytime I read a book about a war that gives details of battles, generals, political players, troop movements, and military jargon, I confess that it’s easy for me to get lost and tune out at times.  When I read so many descriptions of ‘armies flanking west’ and ‘General Whosis who took the 4^th army’s 6^th division and counterattacked through some unpronounceable town etc.’ I simply get overwhelmed and lost.   I never felt this way reading this book.  Again, give the author credit.  I felt as though he was purposely telling us a story (as the subtitle implies) rather than simply piling on fact after fact after fact.

That’s not to say that this volume is 100% comprehensive.  No, not even a ‘brief’ account of 800 pages can cover everything.  We rarely read about the minor countries. (Side note: Did you know Japan fought in WWI also? Do you know who’s side they fought on?) I was hoping to read about (future U.S. President) Herbert Hoover’s philanthropic leadership providing aid towards the savaged nation of neutral Belgium, but as I recall, there’s nothing in here about those events.   This isn’t a complaint, merely an observation.  So if there are certain events of the first world war that you’re vaguely familiar with and want to learn more about, you might not find them here.  But all of the major stuff is included.

In conclusion, if you’re an astute student of World War I, I’m guessing there might not be that much that’s new for you here, but for the majority, this is a great book if you love to learn about the history. Even if it’s arguably the worst time in the history of the civilized world.