"It is a facsimile of the 1914 book, with an added introduction by Patrick Maume. What invaluable treasures this series has turned up." Books Ireland May 2006 "the series' editors must be highly commended ... a fascinating text and one that the author never had the opportunity to revise with the benefit of hindsight ... Ironically, the opinions of those he interviewed, and his own vision for Ireland, would prove to be largely redundant in the post-war era." Studies 2006 "Begbie's work varies from interesting to engrossing and complements Johnston's academic approach ... In [this] later volume, Patrick Maume's Introduction deftly draws together political, religious and social themes into a brilliant overview of the period. His portrayals pf the author and contributors add a fascinating breadth to the text." Irish Democrat 2006 "University College Dublin Press has now published over thirty 'Classics of Irish History'. These contemporary accounts by well known personalities of historical events and attitudes have an immediacy that conventional histories do not have. Introductions by modern historians provide additional historical background and, with hindsight, objectivity." Books Ireland Nov 2007 "Scholars of nineteenth-century Irish and Irish-American politics should reacquaint themselves with these classics, part of a long running and immensely useful series from University College Dublin Press. Patrick Maume has edited and written the introductions for no less than nine of the books in this series, lending them his breadth of knowledge and keen analysis that have made him one of the most learned and intellectually generous young scholars in the field." Irish Literary Supplement Fall 2008