What readers are saying
Discover how The Yank and A Shadow of Freedom have resonated with fellow authors, critics, and readers across Ireland and internationally. John Crawley's frank, unvarnished memoirs offer a rare, compelling perspective on modern Irish history that leaves a lasting impression from the very first page.
"In terms of insider accounts John Crawley’s The Yank is as good as it gets. Strategic rather than starry eyed, the highly regarded former IRA volunteer peels away the layers of mist that have shrouded the IRA. Not a sensationalist read, but very much a gripping one."
Anthony McIntyre
"The Yank is the electrifying memoir and definitive account of guerrilla days in modern Ireland, by a man who refused to shy away from duty and love for this country. Powerfully written and relentlessly nerve-shredding, it’s a modern-day masterpiece unlike any other book ever written about the war in the North of Ireland."
Sam Millar, author of On The Brinks
‘I read The Yank in one sitting . . . Crawley draws you in from the first line to the last and he doesn’t go . . . he writes with a candour and clarity that is both absorbing and direct. This is a seminal book that should be read by everyone with an interest in Irish affairs’
Richard O’Rawe, author of Northern Heist
The Yank is an entertaining and informative tale of the exploits of a Yank who joined the IRA. That in itself would be a story worth telling, except John Crawley’s life in the IRA was no ordinary story. He comes across as a committed and dedicated Irish republican and even a veritable James Bond, though he might not like the comparison with the fictional agent of British imperialism and murder at her majesty’s request.
Gearóid Ó Loingsigh
"The Yank is an extraordinary piece of work. No sentiment or self-pity; hardboiled and disarmingly direct. A compelling read."
Patrick McCabe, author of The Butcher Boy