Introduction

Liam O'Flaherty's short story "The Sniper" reveals the chilling reality of civil war: its capacity to turn neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother. With a detached narrator that offers no background, emotion, or insight into the characters, readers become distanced observers of the story's action. The distance from the action that the reader feels is reflected in the inability of the title character to see his enemy as a human being rather than a target or obstacle to his freedom. This work recounts a turbulent moment in Irish political history. Called a sketch rather than a story by O'Flaherty, "The Sniper" is one of several war narratives inspired by O'Flaherty's own experience as a rebel during Ireland's quest for independence, as well as his participation in the First World...