'Eoin O'Malley gets under the skin of both Garret FitzGerald and Charles Haughey in this outstanding dual biography to show how their rivalry shaped the nature of modern Ireland. A riveting study of character, class, and country' -- Gary Murphy * author of Haughey *
'Judgmental yet fair-minded, the book reminds us of the importance of the individual in politics. Only FitzGerald could have delivered the seismic Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985: and only Haughey - who initially dismissed it as heretical, partitionist, even treasonable - could manage the U-turn which had him working the agreement as part of the pathway to peace' -- John Bowman * historian and broadcaster *
'Eoin O'Malley is one of Ireland's most lucid and independently minded political thinkers. And Charlie vs Garrett is a contribution to our understanding of contemporary Ireland precisely in this vein. The combined effect of O'Malley's insight and access makes this essential reading' -- Finn McRedmond * journalist for The Irish Times and New Statesman *
'For anyone interested in great political rivalries, this book is an absolute must-read. Haughey and FitzGerald could not have been more different, and Eoin O'Malley tells the story of their mutual suspicion and rivalry in dramatic detail. A real page turner' -- Iain Dale * broadcaster, author and political commentator *
'A tour-de-force! Charlie vs Garret explores the influence that two political rivals exerted on the political, social and economic development of Ireland over several decades of the twentieth century. O'Malley brings the history of a sometimes turbulent political period to life with a narrative that is both compelling and comprehensive in its detail' -- Mary Harney, former Tanaiste
'A riveting read on the most intense political rivalry of the 1980s. The political contest between FitzGerald and Haughey defined a decade and this book expertly captures their political battles while sketching out their often intertwined political destinies. This systematic examination of the two titans of 1980s politics is long overdue' -- Theresa Reidy