This book, which was in my father's possession, was first published in 1908, when JJ was commencing his third year in College. It aroused controversy, so that a second edition came out in October 1909, and JJ would appear to have bought the second edition when in his final year. The book deals with the history of Ireland from 1200 up to 1600 when with the Tudor conquest Norman-Irish civilisation was crushed.

When is was first published, there was no scholarly work in existence which took Irish medieval history seriously. It was assumed that pre-colonial civilisation was barbaric and unworthy of study. Such history as existed was through the eyes of the victors in the Tudor wars. 'A picture of unrelieved barbarism, "hateful to God", served to justify to strangers the English extirpation of Irish society...'.

In the preface to the second edition ASG defends herself stoutly against the attacks of those who found her account of medieval Ireland as an exporter of corn incredible, referring to the testimony of the State papers. 'The frequent intercourse with the continent of traders, travellers and men of learning, which had been denied by modern English writers on Irish history, seems fully established by the records...'.

She concludes her preface with the following paragraph:

'The suggestion was made to me by an Irish scholar that in the interests of goodwill I should omit some some reflections on modern English versions of Irish history; the suggestion was voluntarily withdrawn after a visit to England where this gentleman happened to see the effects produced in schools by teaching from such books.'

The book would have complemented JJ's studies of the history of the classical world of Greeks and Romans, and would have reinforced his views on Home Rule which he had picked up via the Ulster Liberal family tradition.

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Copyright Dr Roy Johnston 1999