Across the Barricades

Belfast, early 1970s. The Troubles have carved the city into Protestant and Catholic territories walled off by barbed wire and suspicion. Sadie Jackson, 1 a sharp-tongued Protestant girl of sixteen, spots Kevin McCoy 2 in a crowd — the dark, restless Catholic boy she once fought and then befriended three summers ago. Over coffee and hamburgers, their old banter returns as if the years hadn't passed. At the bus stop, Linda Mullet 8 — Sadie's 1 neighbor — recognizes Kevin's 2 unmistakably Catholic name and hurries off. Sadie 1 doesn't care. She and Kevin 2 ride to Cave Hill, where the city lies

Lesson 1: Coffee with the Enemy

This principle from Across the Barricades is backed by Joan Lingard's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 2: Brandy and a Hidden Rifle

This principle from Across the Barricades is backed by Joan Lingard's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 3: Rain, Rage, and a First Kiss

This principle from Across the Barricades is backed by Joan Lingard's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

How to Apply Across the Barricades's Lessons

The real value of Across the Barricades lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Joan Lingard's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"Coffee with the Enemy" — Joan Lingard, Across the Barricades

About the Author

Joan Lingard is the author of Across the Barricades. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.