The English journalist and novelist Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) is probably best remembered today for his humourous writing (including Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummell) but he also wrote about politics. I have just written an article for History Today on Jerome's 1920 magazine article on Ireland and his plea to his compatriots to 'Let Ireland Go'. Read it here.
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It might seem unusual that Jerome, who was mainly known for his humourous writing, would involve himself in the Irish Question. However, in 1916 he did add his name to a petition that appealed for clemency for Roger Casement at his trial for treason following on from his attempt to bring in German military aid to Ireland for the Easter Rising. More about that here. Jerome also said that his wife Georgina Marris was "half Irish" so perhaps it was not that unusual that Jerome would write in support of Irish self-determination in 1920.
As I mention in my article in History Today, Irish republicans used Jerome's article to show that their push for freedom was being supported by others around the world. News about his magazine article featured in newspapers around the world. Below is the cover of the pamphlet where a group called the Friends of Irish Freedom reproduced Jerome's article.
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