John Hume in America - by Maurice Fitzpatrick (Paperback)

About the Book

"First published in Ireland in 2017 by Irish Academic Press."

Book Synopsis

In John Hume in America: From Derry to DC and its accompanying documentary, In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America, Maurice Fitzpatrick chronicles the rise of John Hume from the riot-torn streets of Northern Ireland to his work with American presidents, from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton, and the United States Congress to leverage U.S. support for peace in Northern Ireland.

Hume is widely considered the architect of the Northern Ireland peace process, and he engaged the attention and assistance of the "Four Horsemen"--Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Hugh Carey, and Ted Kennedy--to his cause, lending his effort worldwide credibility and putting significant pressure on the British and Irish governments to strive for peace.

Supported by the Hume family, Fitzpatrick's critical work is the missing piece in the jigsaw of Hume's political life, tracing his philosophy of non-violence during the Civil Rights movement to his indispensable work with allies in the United States towards the creation of a new political framework in Northern Ireland. Both the book and its companion documentary will be of keen interest to historians and students of political science and Irish, peace, and conflict studies, as well as non-academic audiences.

Review Quotes

"Documentary filmmaker Fitzpatrick makes an important contribution to the literature on the peace process in Northern Ireland, focusing on John Hume, one of the principals in the long work to bring peace and gain support for the agreement. . . . The book . . . offers a good introduction to the Troubles and the peace process in Northern Ireland through the role of a central proponent of peace." --Choice

"Maurice Fitzpatrick is a gifted storyteller. In this wonderful book, he shows how a man of peace and hope, John Hume, worked with Irish-American leaders to achieve his vision of a Northern Ireland liberated of old hatreds. The reader comes away with a clear picture of an underappreciated humanitarian and peacemaker." --Terry Golway, author of Being New York, Being Irish

"With this timely look at British, Irish, and American politics--and at John Hume, the man who brought them all together to bring peace to Northern Ireland--Maurice Fitzpatrick proves as talented with a pen as he is with a camera. Here is a vivid reminder of how difficult it was for even the best of men to teach shortsighted political leaders the folly of hatred, grievance, violence, and bigotry. Pray we don't return to those days again." --John A. Farrell, author of Richard Nixon: The Life

"A masterful study of how this son of the Bogside, with the help of the Irish Government, mobilized the power of successive Presidents of the United States." --Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minster) Leo Varadkar

"A must read for anyone truly committed to the Cause of Peace and Reconciliation among troubled constituencies. John Hume embodied the courage, tenacity, and an awareness of the political realities, in living a lifetime dedicated to the cause of peace." --Charles F. Dougherty, U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania (1979-1983)

"A wonderful reminder of the strength in diplomacy and the close relationship between the United States and Northern Ireland." --Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

"John Hume was full of life and energy, a natural leader, a man who took courageous and personally dangerous positions all his life, in an effort to find a way forward in Northern Ireland. I am deeply gratified that a history of his work with American leaders has now been written." --Senator George J. Mitchell, from the foreword

"John Humes' role in our efforts to bring peace to the Island of Ireland has been a profound and generous one. A man of great vision, he understood that consensus could only be achieved through respectful and meaningful dialogue. He was the moral architect of an inclusive peace process, which has shaped the Ireland we inhabit today. This publication provides a valuable insight into the work and legacy of John Hume, who will always be recalled as a dedicated and visionary peacemaker." --Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland

"Maurice Fitzpatrick provides a portrait of John Hume based primarily on interviews he conducted with American politicians, diplomats, and other negotiators involved in the Northern Ireland peace process. Fitzpatrick should be commended for bringing together those who made important contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process to have them explain the role that Hume played."--Timothy J. White, Irish Political Studies

"This book should be mandatory reading for any student researching the so-called 'special relationship' between Britain and America. Maurice Fitzpatrick has demonstrated how, in contrast to earlier Irish nationalist leaders, John Hume successfully exploited the other longstanding special relationship between Ireland and America."--Dr. Thomas Dolan, Irish History Review

About the Author

Maurice Fitzpatrick is a film director and author. In 2017, he wrote, directed, and produced the documentary feature film, In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America. He is the 2020 Heimbold Chair of Irish Studies at Villanova University.