This is a landmark book, full of insight and intelligent judgement and sheer diligent research, which deals with the complexity of the Irish revolution and its aftermath. Ferriter is at ease in the world of high politics and policy-making, but it is his work on economic, social, cultural and gender issues, which makes his account of Ireland during this period itself a transformation in historical methodology’- Colm Toibin.

It is significant that it begins in 1900 and ends in 2000 - most accounts have begun in 1912 or 1922 and largely ignored the end of the century.

Politics and political parties are examined in detail but high politics does not dominate the book, which rather sets out to answer the question: ‘What was it like to grow up and live in 20th-century Ireland?’

It makes extensive use of unused or neglected sources.

It deals with the North in a comprehensive way, focusing on the social and cultural aspects, not just the obvious political and religious divisions.