Northern Ireland, the United States and the Second World War

Simon Topping's study examines the American military presence in Northern Ireland during the Second World War, exploring the government's management, diplomatic and military rationales, and impact on local sectarian dynamics. It offers a comprehensive examination of overlooked aspects of the war and Northern Ireland, filling important gaps in the history of both.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Simon Topping's book examines the American military presence in Northern Ireland during the Second World War, focusing on the role of the government at Stormont in managing this 'friendly invasion'. It explores the diplomatic and military rationales for the deployment, the attitude of Americans to their posting, and the effect of the US presence on local sectarian dynamics. Topping also examines US military planning, hospitality and entertainment provided for American troops, the renewal and reimagining of historic links between Ulster and the United States, the importation of 'Jim Crow racism', and how all of this impacted upon internal, transatlantic and cross-border politics. The book also draws attention to influential and understudied individuals such as Northern Ireland's Prime Minister Sir Basil Brooke and offers a reassessment of David Gray, America's minister to Dublin. As a result, it provides a comprehensive examination of largely overlooked aspects of the war and Northern Ireland more generally, and fills important gaps in the history of both.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350257719