Peter Duffy (1) (1969–)

An interesting account of a notorious murder of a Protestant landlord during the height of the Great Hunger in Co. Roscommon, Ireland. The author does a good job of putting the whole affair into context, tracing the history of the Mahon family, and the history and development of the estate, including the serial problems in estate management that, along with the potato blight, ultimately precipitated Mahon's murder. The author's attitude toward Mahon himself is moderately balanced, showing both the good and bad in his behavior (his heir and son in law, rather deservedly, gets more stick, as does the land agent). There's also a fairly good analysis of the political events surrounding the famine, including the Catholic Church's politics; one of the priests in the area does not come off terribly well, being something of a bully. Overall, a good read.… (más)

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The Agitator: William Bailey and the First American Uprising against Nazism by Peter Duffy is a short biography of William Bailey, an American who stood his ground against Hitler’s Germany at a time when the US was solidly neutral. Mr. Duffy is a historian and journalist.

The main event that The Agitator: William Bailey and the First American Uprising against Nazism by Peter Duffy centers around is a protest against the Third Reich which took place in July of 1935. A group of Communist Party members, led by Bill Bailey, crashed a reception on the SS Bremen, a huge German luxury liner, tore down the swastika flag and threw it into the New York Harbor.

Mr. Duffy places the events of that day, and the life of Mr. Bailey, in context of the times and his socio-economic status. Bill Bailey came from “a destitute Irish family”, he spent time in juvenile jail, grew up in a slum, and as a result developed a political ideology and a strong conscious.

The book juxtaposes between the biography of Mr. Bailey and the downfall of Germany to the Nazi party. While the protest on the SS Bremen was taken place, the pogroms in Berlin and Germany against the Jews were growing stronger, it’s disconcerting how polished politicians missed all the signs, or worst, they didn’t.

The book is short, and very readable. Reading about the protest of one group (focused on one man), while bigger events were taking place is a fascinating read. Mr. Bailey went on the live an unapologetic life, defying the House Un-American Activities Committee and at some point, capitalizing on his short lived fame by becoming an actor.… (más)