Gladstone: Ireland and beyond
Mary E. Daly & K. Theodore Hoppen, editors
‘It is refreshing to see a more nuanced view of British attitudes towards Ireland being recognised … In the best essay in the collection, the co-editor, Theodore Hoppen, offers an original interpretation of the reasons why Britain failed to build a genuine relationship of mutual benefit with Ireland … the editors have pulled off something of a coup here. They have successfully integrated the work of established and emerging scholars, of English, Scottish and Irish academics and of those with political, intellectual and cultural approaches', Ian Cawood, EHR (February 2013).
‘It is a tribute to the quality of the essays in Gladstone: Ireland and beyond that they succeed in shedding fresh light on Gladstone’s sustained and contentious involvement with Irish politics and society as well as revealing facets of his engagement with the wider world and, in particular, the issue of empire … Take together, the essays demonstrate the many sphere Gladstone affected and the breadth of his legacy … The volume succeeds admirably in its goal of incorporating the work of both established and younger scholars, combining contributions by doctoral students and recent PhDs as well as a number of major scholars of Irish and Imperial history. The essays are overall of a high quality and not only provide historians with a sense of the richness of Gladstonian scholarship but also map out areas for future research', Michael Silvestri (July 2012).
‘Gladstone was a towering figure in British politics and in matters Irish … however there was more to him than all this as the book sets out to show. The various contributors look at the life and influence of Gladstone in the context of British political history, the religious dimension to his policies, his role in Ireland and the wider world especially the British empire. There is also an interesting postscript on the unsuccessful proposal to erect a statue to him in Dublin', Books Ireland (Summer 2011).
‘Four Courts have done their writers proud with an impressive front cover: a spectacular sunset effect with the gaunt statue of Gladstone in the foreground, photographed in the grounds of St Deniol’s Library at Hawarden, his country home. Even in stone, you can see why those piercing eyes used to intimidate opponents … Anthologies can be something of a lucky dip but the standard here is very high’, John Kirkaldy, Books Ireland (September 2011).
