Big Boys' Rules cover art

Big Boys' Rules

The SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Big Boys' Rules

By: Mark Urban
Narrated by: Mark Urban
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £29.99

Buy Now for £29.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

In 2007, after almost 40 years of operations, the SAS ceased operations in Northern Ireland and ended the longest operational commitment in the unit's history. It had been a brutal and ruthless conflict on both sides with the SAS famously describing its attitude to the use of lethal force as 'Big Boys' Rules'. Anyone suspect caught with a gun or bomb could expect to be shot without question.

Starting in 1969, Mark Urban reveals the extraordinary history of the special forces' operations in Northern Ireland and the unenviable dilemmas faced by intelligence chiefs engaged in a daily struggle against one of the world's most sophisticated terrorist organisations.

'This is a book that needed to be written and which fulfils the essentials of any Ulster story; it expands understanding beyond fragmented jingoism and newspaper headlines.' Sunday Times

©2012 Mark Urban (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK Armed Forces Freedom & Security Military Military & War Politics & Government Special & Elite Forces World War I Ireland British Army

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Task Force Black cover art
First into Action Again cover art
Agents of Influence cover art
Stakeknife cover art
Phoenix, Policing the Shadows cover art
Sunday Bloody Sunday cover art
Beyond the Drop Zone cover art
Fishers of Men cover art
Stakeknife's Dirty War cover art
Paddy Mayne cover art
Above the Ground cover art
MRF Shadow Troop cover art
The Operators cover art
Fighting for Queen and Country cover art
Double Agent cover art
First into Action cover art
All stars
Most relevant  
Narration was excellent book was great well researched and very well written. Although not a lot of detail about early three years of troubles still very enjoyable

Clarity and content of book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Mark's books are very detailed and has trusted sources, this book goes into the detail of the struggles on both sides of the divide in including the lack of collaboration between the Security Forces.

Highly recommended!!

Detailed account of the Troubles in NI

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
the story was very good, but even sas said they were 2 soft on then
but a good little read

the sas, we're 2 soft on then

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well read and detailed but in the light of disclosures about collision seems partisan and outdated

Interesting but outdated & partisan

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Urban is a much better TV journalist than he is a writer. This is a a dry and factual account which gets bogged down with the detail of the hierarchy of the intelligence services. While it may be accurate it lacks in analysis of the broader context. And one gets the impression that he shoehorned the SAS into title just to drum up interest.

Stolid and old hat

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was hoping to gain a better understanding of the Army and IRA in NI . I certainly feel educated but . the press , judiciary , RUC , intelligence , informers , politicians , police , SAS , shoot to kill, rules of engagement make it so complex . The fact that terrorists were treated as criminals when they were in fact enemy soldiers fighting a gorilla war and 1000 + members of the security services were killed is very revealing .

Worth listening to

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Narration is average at best, and content didn't grip me at all. Far better books on the troubles out there

Dull

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The story is boring and mundane and lacks interest just seems like a list of facts

Nothing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.