October 2003

Gerry Adams has brought the oldest revolutionary movement in Ireland on an extraordinary journey from armed insurrection to active participation in government. An author as well as an activist, he brings a vivid sense of immediacy and a writer's understanding of narrative to this story of the triumph of hope in what was long considered an intractable bloody conflict. He conveys the tensions of the peace process, the sense of teetering on the brink, and he has a sharp eye and acute ear for them humorous foibles of political allies and enemies alike.

He reveals previously unpublished details of the peace process: secret contacts with the Catholic Church; the inside story on the covert talks between republicans and the British government; the Irish-American role and meetings in the White House; the importance of the South African role; differences within republicanism and the emergence of dissidents; the breakdown of the first IRA cessation. He speaks candidly about being shot, and discloses details of his discussions with the IRA. He details for the first time ever the secret talks to reinstate the IRA cessation, involving Irish, British and US governments, the IRA leadership and then opposition leader Tony Blair; and he describes the making of the Good Friday Agreement, what was agreed and what was promised.

He paints revealing portraits of the other leading characters in the drama that was acted out through ceasefires and stand-offs, discussions and confrontations. Amongst these are Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, Mo Mowlam, Martin McGuinness, Albert Reynolds, Bill & Hilary Clinton, Jean Kennedy Smith, David Trimble, John Hume, Nelson Mandela, John Bruton and Charles Haughey.

As the pre-eminent republican strategist of his generation, he provides the first authentic account of the principles and tactics underpinning modern Irish republicanism. And in a world where peace processes are needed more urgently than ever, this book provides a template for conflict resolution processes internationally.