Nelson De Mille : Cathedral. 1981. Grafton Books.: London. ISBN 0-586-05160-0

Terrorism is not new to the world. The IRA made it a jihad of sorts – for independence and freedom from suppression. But, in the cause of its fight, it turned into a monster that fed on the flesh and blood of innocents and the hearts and souls of those that served it.

Nelson de Mille probes the psyche of terrorists through this ‘epic siege novel’. There’s Flynn, a driven and motivated activist, misguided though. There’s Maureen, a reformed IRA activist – reformed, because she realises that she is losing herself in the cause of something that only causes sadness and grief to all. There’s Hickey, a lunatic who is crazy enough to sacrifice all in the name of the IRA and writing a death wish for himself and others. There’s Burke, the NYPD officer understands the nuances of thoughts in the minds of these and attempts to bridge the law enforcement agencies and the terrorists to minimize loss of lives.

Linking them all is a story of a siege of the St.Patrick’s Cathedral in New York by the IRA. The careful plans, the maneuvers , the pain of failures leading to deaths and the spectre of violence that the siege causes are well crafted in this story. Nelson de Mille keeps one’s heart in one’s mouth. What unfurls before one’s eyes is the spectacular climax that is described with meticulous design.

Thank you de Mille for the hours of thrill and entertainment .