The story of Tom Barry's life, peppered by his battles with the State and Church, and his constant endeavours to obtain an All Ireland Republic makes him a unique and important figure of Irish history. Tom Barry chronicles the action-packed life of the Commander of the Third West Cork Flying Column and one of the great architects of modern guerrilla warfare in Ireland's fight for freedom. The ""False Surrender"" controversy during the decisive Kilmichael ambush, is brought into sharp focus in this book, so also is the controversy regarding sectarianism during the 1920-22 period. It details his involvement on the fringes of the Treaty negotiations; his Republican activities during the Civil War; his engagement in the cease-fire/dump-arms deal of 1923, and his term as the IRA's Chief-of-Staff.