"This Side of Paradise: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Judge Cohalan, and the Irish Revolution"

During the socially turbulent and unusually sweltering summer of 1919, the 23-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald reworked "This Side of Paradise", the novel that turned him into an overnight sensation and launched the Jazz Age. He writes that Amory Blaine, his self-modelled protagonist, suspects that being Irish is “somewhat common.”

The novel marks another turning point in Fitzgerald's conflicted, fascinating, and haunted relationship with his Irish heritage. In the novel, Blaine attacks the very real life Daniel F. Cohalan, the powerful justice of the supreme court of New York and Irish-American leader, for the “rancid accusations” he exchanges with Edward Carson, the Ulster Unionist, in defending Ameria's right to intervene on behalf of Ireland. Patrick explores Fitzgerald's complicated relationship with his ethnicity, his reasons for referencing Cohalan, as well as the latter’s remarkable, and largely airbrushed, contribution to the Irish revolution.

Patrick O'Sullivan Greene

Patrick O'Sullivan Greene published "Crowdfunding the Revolution: The First Dáil Loan and the Battle for Irish Independence" in 2020. Critically well-received, President Michael D. Higgins invited Patrick to Áras an Uachtaráin to present the book to him. The book was reviewed by Paschal Donohoe, Irish Minister for Finance in History Ireland: “The quality of writing and the pace of storytelling ensure that this is not a niche or specialist work of history. This is a compelling read. I wish I had written it myself.” 

O'Sullivan's second book, "Revolution at the Waldorf: America and the Irish War of Independence", challenges much of the myth-making surrounding the Irish mission to America seeking recognition and funding for the counter-state government. Patrick is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has worked in business and finance for most of his career.

The American Irish Historical Society

The American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) in New York is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and culture of the Irish in America. Founded in 1897, it serves as a cultural and historical repository, offering resources, exhibits, and events that highlight the contributions of Irish Americans to the United States.

For more information on the AIHS and its upcoming events, visit AIHSNY.org.

The talk by Patrick O'Sullivan Greene "This Side of Paradise: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Judge Cohalan, and the Irish Revolution" will take place on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 6.00 pm at 991 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028.