Stephen Walker’s latest book ‘The Persuader’ is a biography of the Nobel Laureate, John Hume.

With never before published interviews with Hume and revealing contributions from family members. This is a fascinating insight into one of the giants of Irish history.

Described by the Irish Times as ‘the definitive biography of John Hume ’, it offers a critical analysis of a peacemaker and politician who was one of the key architects of the Good Friday Agreement. 

Published by Gill Books, ‘ The Persuader’ includes  up to date interviews with the leading players of the Northern Ireland Peace process including  Sir Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern,  Sir John Major, Senator George Mitchell and Gerry Adams. 

What people are saying

“The definitive biography of John Hume.”

Freya McClements, Northern Editor, The Irish Times. 
Co- Author ‘Children of the Troubles’.

“Stephen Walker masterfully paints a portrait of Hume’s dogged attempts to bring peace to Northern Ireland over three painstaking decades of heartache and hope. In these vivid pages we get the rows, the showdowns and the deals, as Hume unwaveringly tries to bring peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland. It is a riveting portrait of a man who changed Ireland.”

Professor Gary Murphy. 
Author of ‘Haughey’.

“This superb biography does full justice to a towering figure.”

David McCullagh, RTÉ Presenter and Journalist.
Author of ‘De Valera’ and ‘ The Reluctant Taoiseach’.

“Stephen Walker captures the compelling complexity of this giant of Irish politics. This book conveys how strategic thinking harnessed to single- minded determination can reshape society. Scrupulously fair, deeply researched and insightful, this work gives new insight into the man whose thinking still dominates our lives.”

Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor, Belfast Telegraph. 
Author of ‘Burned’.

Previous Books

  • Forgotten Soldiers : The Irishmen Shot at Dawn

    Forgotten Soldiers : The Irishmen Shot at Dawn

    Stephen Walker’s career as an author began in 2007 with the publication of ‘Forgotten Soldiers : The Irishmen Shot at Dawn’.  Published by Gill and Macmillan, it was an Irish Times best seller and was short-listed for Irish  Non- Fiction Book of the Year.

    Critically acclaimed in the press, it told the story of twenty-eight Irish soldiers who were executed by the British Army during the Great War. It also reported on the  successful modern day campaign to have the men posthumously pardoned.

  • Hide & Seek

    Hide & Seek

    Hide and Seek tells a remarkable and true story of war, peace and friendship between a Nazi colonel and an Irish priest in wartime Rome.

    The book chronicles the activities of Kerry priest Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty who hid allied escapees in Rome during World War Two and charts how SS officer Herbert Kappler tried to stop him. It is a gripping tale of how an Irish priest defied the Nazi command. Published by Harper Collins in 2011, ‘Hide and Seek ’ was an Irish Times Best Seller and the Daily Mail Book of The Week who described it as ‘ a heartening story’.

  • Ireland’s Call

    Ireland’s Call

    Ireland’s Call details the fascinating and poignant stories of Irish sporting heroes who died in the Great War. It chronicles the careers of footballers, rugby players, cricketers, athletes and GAA stars who swapped the sports field for the battle field during the years 1914 -18.

    Based on archive material and war diaries it was published by Merrion Press in 2015.  A remarkable and ground breaking insight into the lives and deaths of some of the greatest sporting stars Ireland has ever produced.