Interview: Fionnuala Doran, Author of The Trial of Roger Casement

Description

We recently had the privilege of reading Fionnuala Doran‘s The Trail of Roger Casement, a fresh, riveting biography of the final years of Irish political activist Roger Casement. Once knighted by King George V for his humanitarian work in South America and Africa, Casement would eventually be hanged for attempting to lure German support for an independent Ireland.

This absorbing graphic novel depicts a harsh reminder of Casement’s downfall in such a short space of time. Narrated in a jerking, stop-start manner and illustrated in a bold, frantic manner, The Trial of Roger Casement certainly stands as a highlight of SelfMadeHero’s biography catalogue I’ve read thus far.

We recently caught up with author Fionnuala to talk about The Trial of Roger Casement, and the lasting impact of Casement himself. To be discussed along the way: the Heart of Darkness, Fionualla’s grandparents, and the joys of teaching comic books to university students.