Irish Impressions

Written at the defining moment when Ireland was heading toward complete national independence, Chesterton's study of the Irish question demonstrates that if both the English and the Irish had modified their attitudes slightly, subsequent Anglo-Irish relations could have been radically improved. Unlike most historians, he tackles the question from an ideological, philosophical, and religious standpoint. As a Roman Catholic and a lover of English nationalism, Chesterton shared many sentiments with the Irish. Written objectively and frankly, this is an important work for any student of English/Irish history as well as an excellent study of the effects of ideology and religion on society.

G. K. Chesterton's writing career spanned 35 years and included nearly 100 books and thousands of articles in 125 different periodicals, on topics ranging from travel, economics, and politics to religion and philosophy. His command of the language made him one of the leading literary figures of early 20th-century England. Dermot Quinn is an associate professor of history at Seton Hall University. He has written several books, including Patronage and Piety: English Roman Catholics and Politics, 1850-1900, and Understanding Northern Ireland. His articles and reviews have been published in, among others, The Chesterton Review, The American Historical Review, and The Welsh History Review. He earned his Ph.D. from Oxford University.