James Dillon: a biography, by Maurice Manning (Wolfhound, £14.99)
In these days of semi-literate public speaking, the memory of James Dillon's orotund voice booming through the Dail may make some people nostalgic for lost eloquence. He was one of the last - perhaps the very last - of the old-style Irish political orators, with roots back in the Parnellite, Home Rule and Free State past. There was more to him than talk, however, since as Minister for Agriculture in the first Coalition Government he worked energetically and was involved in some tough negotiations in the postwar efforts to win markets in Britain. Though rather to the right of centre, Dillon was a critic of literary censorship and in some ways a more pragmatic, even "liberal" figure than his accepted image might suggest; he also upheld personal standards of decency and showed courage in his lone opposition to Ire
land's wartime neutrality. Dillon's tenure of the Fine Gael party leadership was hardly a success, but when supplanted by Liam Cosgrave he did not waver in his loyalty and enjoyed his last years as a backbench TD. A lively biography of one of the most colourful figures in Irish politics of the mid-century.
- Brian Fallon