PEARSE, Padraic H. Collected Works of Pádraic H. Pearse: Plays, Stories, Poems; Songs of the Irish Rebels and Specimens from an Irish Anthology; Political Writings and Speeches; Scríbhinní Phádraig Mhic Phiarais; The Story of a Success; The Man Called Pearse by Desmond Ryan; and The Life of Pearse by Le Roux.

Illustrated. Six volumes. Dublin: Phoenix Publishing, n.d. [1920s]. Demy octavo. Green blind-stamped cloth, titled in gilt. Previous owner's signature on front free endpapers. A good set.

Padraic Pearse (1879-1916) trained as a lawyer, but did not practise; it is believed he spoke in Court only once. From an early age he was an enthusiastic member of the Gaelic League, became editor of its journal An Claidheamh Solais and founded a residential bilingual school, St. Enda’s, in 1908. Educationally the school was a great success, but it did not prosper financially. From about 1912 Pearse became active in radical politics, and was a founding member of the Irish Volunteers. At Tom Clarke’s invitation he delivered the celebrated Address at the grave of O’Donovan Rossa, and he is credited with drafting much of the 1916 Proclamation. During the Rising he was President of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic. He surrendered the Republican forces on Easter Saturday to avoid further civilian casualties, was sentenced to death by a military court and was shot on 3 May.

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