Pump Up Your Book Presents The IRA on Film and Television Virtual Book Publicity Tour + Kindle Fire HD Giveaway

Join Mark Connelly, author of the history/film criticism book, The IRA on Film and Television, as he tours the blogosphere September 4 – November 30 2012 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! The IRA on Film and Television Virtual Book Publicity Tour is part of huge Kindle Fire HD giveaway. See details further down on how you can win one for your own as well as cash prizes!

ABOUT THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has for decades pursued the goal of unifying its homeland into a single sovereign nation, ending British rule in Northern Ireland. On film, the IRA has appeared in mainstream motion pictures such as The Quiet Man, action films like Blown Away, political dramas, dark comedies, and even a spaghetti Western, A Fistful of Dynamite. The IRA has been explored by major directors from three countries, including John Ford (The Informer), John Frankenheimer (Ronin), Carol Reed (Odd Man Out), David Lean (Ryan’s Daughter), Neil Jordan (Michael Collins), and Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father).  IRA characters have been portrayed by international stars, such as Victor McLaglen, James Cagney, Anthony Hopkins, James Mason, Richard Gere, and Brad Pitt.  Films about the Irish Republican Army range from realistic docudramas like Paul Greengrass’ Bloody Sunday, shot with handheld cameras and natural lighting to create the sensation of watching 1972 newsreel footage, to Joseph Merhi’s action farce Riot in which a British superhero battles IRA bikers in the streets of Los Angeles during a race riot.

Whether portrayed as a heroic patriot, ruthless terrorist, or troubled anti-hero, the Irish rebel has emerged as a universally recognized cinematic archetype.   Over eighty motion pictures include IRA references, and IRA characters have appeared in iconic American television series such as Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, and Law and Order.

This illustrated history analyzes film depictions of the IRA from the 1916 Easter Rising to the peace process of the 1990s. Topics include America’s role in creating both the IRA and its cinematic image, the organization’s brief association with the Nazis, the changing depiction of women in IRA films, and critical reception of IRA films in Ireland, Britain, and the United States.

About the Author

Born in Philadelphia, Mark Connelly completed a masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he received a Ph.D in English.  His books include The Diminished Self: Orwell and the Loss of Freedom, Orwell and Gissing, Deadly Closets:  The Fiction of Charles Jackson, and several college textbooks.  He currently teaches literature and film in Milwaukee, where he is the Vice-President of the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center of Wisconsin.

His latest book is The IRA on Film and Television.

You can visit his website at www.theiraonfilmandtelevision.com.

To get your paperback copy of THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION by Mark Connelly, visit Amazon 

To get your ebook copy of THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION by Mark Connelly, visit Amazon Kindle Store 

Pick up your copy of THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION by Mark Connelly at Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts

IRA on Film and Television by Mark Connelly is a book depicting Irish history from the "troubles" to 'post troubles". The book covers film and television for Michael Collins, Ireland's involvement in WWII. It also covers the classics such as The Informer and Odd Man Out, dark crime thrillers. There is a chapter that is devoted to the "American Angles", which tells about how the Irish immigrants in America still remained faithful to the "old sod". Did you know that "For a century and a half America remained a source of arms, money, and recruits for "the Cause?"...I didn't.
The chapter on international intrigue is about the involvement of the IRA in other countries such as Mexico and Israel.
This book is a wonderful companion to anyone's library, especially if they are interested in Irish history regarding the IRA from around 1858 to present. In the back of the book is a huge list of movies and TV shows to pick from, along with a bibliography, Irish chronology and notes. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will certainly be watching some of the movies and shows depicted i the book.
I received a copy of this book from the author and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

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