A Shared Home Place is Seamus Mallon’s account of his political career, as deputy leader of the SDLP and – later – as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. It’s full of insights about the way in which Mallon’s political consciousness was shaped under the glare of the Troubles – at a time when both sides were condemning him for pursuing a message of peace. While it may lack substantive political analysis, and there are odd digressions, this is still a brave book. It eschews becoming a back-slapping peace process memoir. Rather, Mallon offers a different vision for the future, arguing that ‘parallel consent’ – meaning agreement between nationalists and unionists – should be required if an Irish unity referendum ever comes about. Having witnessed enough killings in his home county of Armagh to last a lifetime, Mallon makes a compelling case for what the future of peace in Ireland might look like.

Lilliput Press

Out now.