Guerrilla warfare is the struggle of the weak against the strong. During the War of Independence, the IRA adapted to guerrilla warfare and was able to inflict severe damage on the Crown forces. By mid-1921, British casualties were continually rising and after much indecision, Lloyd George opted for a truce. This was followed by the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The British departed, leaving behind a self-governing state – on an island partitioned by a newly-drawn border – and the Civil War ensued six months later.

Michael B. Barry has sourced an unprecedented 650 images to tell the story of the struggle for independence, from the post-Rising period to the ruthless war that raged from 1919 to 1921. Many of these images have never been published before. New information, such as the curious case of the alleged IRA Typhoid Plot, is revealed.

This essential book brings the War of Independence alive. From the panoramic to the particular, the activities of the IRA and the Crown forces are set out comprehensively, illustrated by maps of key engagements and clear and incisive text.