"A masterpiece...Kiberd is surely the finest critic of Irish literature." -- Owen Dudley Edwards Scotsman "A critical study laced with wit, energy and unrelenting adroitness of discourse...A remarkable achievement." -- Thomas Flanagan New York Times "Provocative, contentious, sly, tendentious, challenging, witty...A resounding success." -- Gerry Dukes Irish Independent "Blessedly jargon-free, easy to read and - like all of Kilberd's work - full of bravura cleverness." -- Roy Foster The Times
