Shadow of a Taxman: Who Funded the Irish Revolution?

"Shadow of a Taxman: Who Funded the Irish Revolution?" by R.J.C. Adams is a highly engaging and detailed book that offers a new economic and social historiography of the Irish War of Independence. The book focuses on the financial challenge of establishing a new government in a territory that was previously part of the British Empire. By analyzing archival material on individual-level subscriptions to the National Loan and External Loans, the author explores how these loan schemes were arranged, who subscribed to them, and why. The book also challenges existing narratives by broadening the focus to include civilians, women, men outside fighting age, and clerics. It highlights the role of American bond subscribers and the close relationship between the Catholic Church and the Irish Republic. Additionally, the book touches on the origins of state finance and the credit theory of money in the context of revolutionary state-building. Overall, "Shadow of a Taxman" provides valuable insights into the financing, internationalization, and popular support for the Irish independence movement. [Extracted from the article]