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book: Revolutionary Lives
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Revolutionary Lives

Constance and Casimir Markievicz
  • and
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2015

About this book

Constance Markievicz (1868–1927), born to the privileged Protestant upper class in Ireland, embraced suffrage before scandalously leaving for a bohemian life in London and then Paris. She would become known for her roles as politician and Irish revolutionary nationalist. Her husband, Casimir Dunin Markievicz (1874–1932), a painter, playwright, and theater director, was a Polish noble who would eventually join the Russian imperial army to fight on behalf of Polish freedom during World War I. Revolutionary Lives offers the first dual biography of these two prominent European activists and artists. Tracing the Markieviczes' entwined and impassioned trajectories, biographer Lauren Arrington sheds light on the avant-garde cultures of London, Paris, and Dublin, and the rise of anti-imperialism at the turn of the twentieth century.

Drawing from new archival material, including previously untranslated newspaper articles, Arrington explores the interests and concerns of Europeans invested in suffrage, socialism, and nationhood. Unlike previous works, Arrington's book brings Casimir Markievicz into the foreground of the story and explains how his liberal imperialism and his wife's socialist republicanism arose from shared experiences, even as their politics remained distinct. Arrington also shows how Constance did not convert suddenly to Irish nationalism, but was gradually radicalized by the Irish Revival. Correcting previous depictions of Constance as hero or hysteric, Arrington presents her as a serious thinker influenced by political and cultural contemporaries.

Revolutionary Lives places the exciting biographies of two uniquely creative and political individuals and spouses in the wider context of early twentieth-century European history.

Author / Editor information

Lauren Arrington is senior lecturer at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool. She is the author of W. B. Yeats, the Abbey Theatre, Censorship, and the Irish State.

Reviews

"[A] beguiling and thoughtful book."---Roy Foster, Irish Times --- "[A] fascinating account of a European couple immersed in art, politics and revolution.an engaging book. . . . It not only paints a vivid picture of the diverse public lives of its radical subjects, but also explores the private turmoil of familial relationships."---June Purvis, Times Higher Education --- "Amid the many books being rushed out to coincide with the centenary of the Easter Rising, Arrington has written a volume of lasting significance, highlighting the complexity of a figure who continues to fascinate."---James Morgan, Times Literary Supplement

Topics

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    Frontmatter

    i
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    Contents

    vii
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    Preface. The Rebel Countess and the Polish Irishman

    ix
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    1. Origins

    1
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    2. Bohemia

    16
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    3. The Politics of Art

    34
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    4. Suffrage, Nationalism, and the Daughters of Ireland

    50
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    5. Women’s Work?

    56
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    6. Conversion

    65
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    7. Physical Force

    75
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    8. Social Realism

    83
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    9. The Beginning

    89
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    10. The Markieviczes at War

    111
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    11. War and Family Life

    138
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    12. Victory behind Bars

    163
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    13. A Citizen of the Republic

    198
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    14. Counterrevolution

    236
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    15. Reconciliation

    252
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    16. Legacies

    264
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    Selected Bibliography

    277
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    Index

    289
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
November 18, 2019
eBook ISBN:
9781400874187
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
View content
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400874187
eBook ISBN: 9781400874187
Keywords for this book
Constance Markievicz; Éamon de Valera; Casimir; The Irish Times; Maud Gonne; W. B. Yeats; Suffrage; Helena Molony; Cumann na mBan; Dublin Castle; Irish nationalism; Newspaper; Irish republicanism; Irish Volunteers; Eva Gore-Booth; Politics; Abstention; Irish Citizen Army; Republicanism; Writing; Casimir Markievicz; Patrick Pearse; Anti-imperialism; Bolsheviks; Pamphlet; Irish Republican Brotherhood; Irish Transport and General Workers' Union; Martial law; Francis Sheehy-Skeffington; Political prisoner; Separatism; Nationality; Wolfe Tone; Comrade; British Empire; Bulmer Hobson; Conscription; Suburb; Irish Parliamentary Party; Arthur Griffith; Jennie Wyse Power; Kathleen Lynn; Imprisonment; Rhetoric; Con Colbert; Militia; Thomas MacDonagh; Suffragette; Michael Mallin; Royal Irish Constabulary; Politician; Labour movement; Proclamation of the Republic (Brazil); Manifesto; Self-determination; Irish people; Kevin O'Higgins; Dublin Corporation; Winifred Carney; Cumann na nGaedheal; Easter; 1916; William Martin Murphy; Irish Civil War; Joseph Plunkett; Anglo-Irish people; Poles; Pseudonym; Roger Casement; War; Roman Dmowski
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
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