This
is the first biography of David Trimble to be
published. The book will not stand the test of
time, because it is a little premature. Trimble’s
political career is far from over. The book is
to be ranged in the same category as Colm Keena’s
“Gerry Adams: A Biography” (Dublin: Mercier Press,
1990): less than ten years after, it will be badly
dated. The fact that this is already the second
edition barely one year after it was first published
is a clear indication of this. It is unlikely
to become a reference work in the future.
What
makes the book weak is that it seems to have been
written in a hurry; and that commercial and financial
matters had the upper hand over intellectual or
personal interest in the subject. The publisher
probably saw a market opportunity for a book on
Trimble, and Henry McDonald thought he could make
a few pounds on this. This is not the product
of a lifelong passion and interest in the complexities
of unionist politics. There is minimal original
research (all done in a short period of time)
to which have been added “cut and pasted” bits
and pieces of McDonald’s previously published
articles. Those familiar with Henry McDonald’s
coverage of those issues over the last few years
will find little new in this book, especially
given that two thirds of the book deal with events
of the past few years. It gives an impression
of déjà vu. The book lacks the original research
and quality that made McDonald’s previous books
on the INLA and the UVF interesting to read.
What
the reader might find interesting in the book
are a number of anecdotes about Trimble. For example,
I found interesting to learn that Trimble liked
the writings of the philosopher Karl Popper –of
which William Craig was a disciple. Also of interest,
is that when Trimble was at school, one of the
pupils had tried to shoot him, which led to a
police inquiry. Apart from the anecdotes, the
strength of the book is that it gives some insight
into the personality of and relations between
different Unionist politicians.
Potential
readers should be advised keep their money in
their pocket and perhaps wait until the “third
revised and updated” edition of this book is published.
