The Irish Act of Union: A Study in High Politics, 1798-1801

by Patrick M. Geoghegan

The Act of Union is, symbolically, the defining event of modern Ireland and a focal point for the swirling issues of nationalism and political identity. This book examines two key areas which until now have been separated by historians: the passage of the Act of Union and the resignation of Pitt in 1801. The book is the first to make use of newly discovered secret service papers, now in the Public Record Office in Kew, to provide a full account of the Union and the lengths to which the London government was prepared to go in order to force it through.

290 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Patrick M. Geoghegan is a lecturer in the Department of History at Trinity College Dublin.

Reviews

[Denerick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty comprehensive work which contained several insights into both the motivations of Pitt and the British government, and those on the opposite side, such as Speaker Foster and Grattan. I believe he was the first historian to make use of the 'secret service papers', which uncovered once and for all the evident truth that the British government used corruption and bribery on a massive scale to get the Union passed. He also points out that those on the opposing side had a 'corruption fund' of their own, so it doesn't exclude them from verbal punishment!

I enjoyed this in the way that I enjoy history books - it's not going to change my life but I come out the other side feeling like I'm better acquainted with the facts.