Through mountain passes and along the beds of creeks Micheal O'Suilleabhain takes us to attack an armed police patrol here or to plan a large-scale engagement there against the elite of Britain's specially recruited fighting forces in Ireland- the infamous Auxiliaries - all ex-commissioned officers and, to a man, much decorated veterans of world war one. The rank smell of cordite and the smoke and dust of battle on rock-bordered roads are in this book. But in it, too, is heard the beating of the hearts of the mountain/ men. Through it rings the gay laughter of its comely young women and the warm affection of parents, sons and daughters in the mountain homes of Muskerry. It was inevitable that Micheal O'Suilleabhain and his people should rally to the armed struggle for freedom with an all-embracing dedication. They comprehended, perhaps better than most areas in the country, the fundamental causes that led to 1916 and to the War of Independence. And from the ranks of their fighting men has come a chronicler of competence and talent to tell their story as few others could have told it. Here is the place, the time, the man, and the writer -a rare and fortunate combination indeed. Printed in the Republic of Ireland for Anvil Books by The Kerryman Ltd., Tralee.