{"title":"Rory Carroll","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRory Carroll\u003c\/strong\u003e offers compelling biographies and memoirs that delve into the intricate lives of historical and political figures. His writing is marked by a deep engagement with complex themes of rebellion, power, and ideology, providing readers with insightful perspectives on turbulent times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect narratives that combine thorough research with vivid storytelling, capturing the nuances of personal and political conflict. Carroll’s works invite reflection on the forces that shape history through the experiences of individuals caught at pivotal moments.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"killing-thatcher","title":"Killing Thatcher","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Brighton bombing of 1984 remains one of the most audacious and chilling assassination attempts in recent political history. In \u003cem\u003eKilling Thatcher\u003c\/em\u003e, veteran journalist Rory Carroll meticulously reconstructs the series of events that nearly altered the course of British politics forever. This riveting account unveils the story behind the IRA's meticulous plan to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and decimate the British Cabinet, an endeavour rooted deep within the Northern Ireland Troubles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStarting with the cold-blooded execution of Lord Mountbatten in 1979—a harrowing act for which the IRA claimed responsibility—Carroll sets the stage for the political turbulence that followed. The narrative traces Margaret Thatcher's ascent to power, her staunch and controversial stance on the Northern Ireland issue, and the consequential hunger strikes of 1981 that claimed the lives of 10 republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands. These deaths ignited a fierce enmity between Thatcher and the IRA, culminating in the organisation's vow for revenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe story propels forward with a gripping prologue featuring Patrick Magee, the orchestrator of the Brighton bombing, as tensions build towards the climactic attack. Carroll masterfully paints a vivid picture, leading readers through pubs, palaces, safe houses, interrogation rooms, hotels, and military barracks across three continents. It’s an intricate dance involving elite IRA operatives supported by US-raised funds, Libya's Qaddafi, and a renegade priest, juxtaposed against the relentless efforts of intelligence officers, police detectives, informers and bomb disposal experts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eKilling Thatcher\u003c\/em\u003e goes beyond a simple recounting of events. It delves into the psychological and emotional landscapes of those involved, delivering a narrative that reads as taut and thrilling as any piece of fiction. Carroll's exhaustive research and deft storytelling lay bare the fragile fibres of loyalty, betrayal, and fear that wove together this dramatic chapter in British history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis masterfully crafted book has earned its place on prestigious lists, such as The Sunday Times Bestseller and The Irish Times No.1 Bestseller, echoing through accolades like 'A Sunday Times History Book of the Year' and 'A Spectator Book of the Year'. Critics have lauded it for its gripping detail and richly layered prose, with the \u003cem\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/em\u003e likening it to 'a fictional thriller' and the \u003cem\u003eGuardian\u003c\/em\u003e hailing it as 'detailed and richly layered'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history aficionado, a student of political intrigue, or simply a reader in search of a compelling true crime saga, \u003cem\u003eKilling Thatcher\u003c\/em\u003e offers an unparalleled window into the heart of one of modern history’s most sensational assassination plots. Rory Carroll’s chronicle is not just a recount of the past but a narrative that resonates with the timeless truths of human resilience, vengeance, and the pursuit of justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686110093548,"sku":"9780008476694","price":23.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780008476694.jpg?v=1725462083"},{"product_id":"a-rebel-and-a-traitor-by-rory-carroll-9780008696948","title":"A Rebel and a Traitor","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘Deeply researched and fascinating’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘[Rory Carroll is] an exceptionally gifted storyteller’\u003c\/strong\u003e Max Hastings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A gripping read’ \u003cem\u003eThe i Paper\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A thrilling account of one of the most unpredictable, memorable and poignant figures in our history’ \u003cem\u003eIrish Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Irish Times\u003c\/em\u003e No.1 Bestseller\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the master storyteller behind 2023’s critically acclaimed \u003cem\u003eKilling Thatcher\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Rebel and a Traitor\u003c\/em\u003e is the story of a rogue imperial consul who sought to forge a new nation in the middle of a war – and the mercurial spy chief who sought to destroy him by any means.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe rogue consul was Sir Roger Casement, a decorated diplomat who turned his back on the British empire and instead joined the rising Irish cause at the turn of the 20th century. At the book’s centre is the manhunt for Casement led by intelligence officer Reginald ‘Blinker’ Hall, the legendary British spy chief who pioneered codebreaking, early mass surveillance and media manipulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs he did for the critically acclaimed \u003cem\u003eKilling Thatcher\u003c\/em\u003e, master storyteller Rory Carroll has combed diaries, letters, police reports, memoirs, court transcripts, secret service archives and declassified government files in the US, Britain, Ireland and Germany to create a page-turning history, and a story that still echoes through Anglo-Irish relations. \u003cem\u003eA Rebel and a Traitor\u003c\/em\u003e raises profound questions about honour, courage and the price of patriotism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47582855692524,"sku":"9780008696948","price":31.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780008696948-a-rebel-and-a-traitor.jpg?v=1777446816"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/rory-carroll.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}