Watchwords From John Boyle O'Reilly

Boston: J.G. Cupples, 1891. Presumed first ed. Small narrow octavo in ligh t blue cloth with gilt ornament and titles; xli, 60 pages, 3 unnumbered leaves of plates: illustrations, color portrait, facsimile; 18 cm. Minor rubbing to board corners and edges; corners of three leaves cracked off and laid in (paper brittle); else a crisp bright & overall good copy thus. Hardcover.

Uncommon. Inscribed and signed by the editor Conway. In verse and prose. ¶ "John Boyle O'Reilly (1844–1890) was an Irish-born poet, journalist, and fiction writer. He was also a prominent activist for Irish independence from British rule and for Irish immigrants' rights in the United States. As a young man, he joined the British Army in order to infiltrate it for the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a group fighting for Irish independence. When his involvement in the movement was discovered, O'Reilly was arrested and sentenced to penal servitude in Australia. In 1869, O'Reilly managed to escape aboard an American whaling ship and eventually made his way to Boston, Massachusetts. There, he became a popular and influential figure in the Irish-American community. He wrote for the Boston Pilot newspaper, eventually becoming its editor. The Pilot was one of the leading Irish-American newspapers of the time. O'Reilly's poetry and fiction often addressed themes of oppression, freedom, and the experiences of immigrants. His works include the poetry collections "Songs from the Southern Seas" and "Songs, Legends and Ballads," as well as the novel "Moondyne," which was based on his experiences in Australia."