Taylor, James W. 1953-

PERSONAL:

Born October 12, 1953, in Dublin, Ireland; son of James (a storeman) and Theresa (a homemaker) Taylor; married Maura Ryan (a civil servant), July 19, 1985; children: James Adam, Emma Rose. Ethnicity: "Irish." Hobbies and other interests: Touring battlefields, gardening.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Clonard Great, Wexford, Ireland. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer. Inspector of Taxes, 1972—.

WRITINGS:

The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, Four Courts Press (Dublin, Ireland), 2002.

The 2nd Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, Four Courts Press (Dublin, Ireland), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

James W. Taylor told CA: "I have a fascination with Ireland's part in the Great War as it was not on the school curriculum in the Irish Republic. I first visited the Somme in 1996 and was amazed at the number of Irish graves and sad that the Irish soldiers were not being commemorated properly. It was the books of Martin Middlebrook that influenced my interest in that war.

"During my research I came across Captain Bowen-Colthurst, who is notorious for murdering civilians in Dublin during the 1916 Rebellion. He was found guilty but insane. Most references to him give extreme opinions without trying to understand the man behind the tragedy. I am trying to put together a biography that will dispel myths and show him as a human being, not a monster."

Taylor later told CA: "During my research I was given immense help by many people, especially in Northern Ireland. The Great War involved the entire island of Ireland and I hope that my books will assist in understanding this common experience."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Belfast Telegraph, December 30, 2002, Richard Doherty, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Books Ireland, December, 2003, John Kirkaldy, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, p. 307.

Due North, autumn-winter, 2003, Keith Haines, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Genealogical Society of Ireland, October, 2003, Donal Hall, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, pp. 167-169.

Irish America, August-September, 2003, Tom Deignan, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Irish Historical Studies, November, 2003, Keith Jeffery, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, pp. 488-489.

Irish Sword, summer, 2003, Pat McCarthy, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Irish Times, November 8, 2002, Kevin Myers, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Journal of Military History, October, 2003, Nicholas Perry, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, pp. 1308-1309.

Portadown Times, January 24, 2003, Brian Courtney, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Soldier, January, 2003, Brian Jewell, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.

Stand To! Journal of the Western Front Association, April, 2003, R.J. Wyatt, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War, p. 43.

Wexford People, November 27, 2002, David Tucker, review of The 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War.