This book reassesses the cultural and political dimensions of the Irish Revival's heroic ideal and explores its implications for the construction of Irish modernity. By foregrounding the heroic ideal, it shows how the cultural landscape carved out by these writers is far from homogenous.

'This is an extremely accessible book, written with crispness, clarity and wit, which should be of value to a range of readers: undergraduates and graduate students in Anglo-Irish literature, academic specialists in Irish studies. Though Higgins shows her familiarity with the body of contemporary scholarship, and her mastery of relevant critical theory, the style is sufficiently clear and free of scholarly exhibitionism that even a beginning student of the subject will be able to read it with ease.' - Nicholas Grene, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

'This is an attractively written, well researched and lively book, which will sell to senior undergraduates, postgraduates and the very large numbers of scholars and students who work in the ever-expanding field of Irish Studies.' - George Watson, University of Aberdeen, UK

'Highly recommended.' - Choice