The History of Ireland is the most fascinating and least known of records. When Britons were represented as savages, Ireland was a place of saints and researchers. The author of this edition of D'Arcy McGee's superb and unbiased work took advantage of the awakening interest in Irish writing to present to the public a book of elegant history, as cheap as widely circling romance. It was his wish to teach his countrymen about their national records. It is difficult to close the introduction without an expression of regret at the dark and horrible destiny that overtook the honorable, enthusiastic, and patriotic Irishman, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. The book describes how he was a man who loved his nation well, fought for his country and people, and tried so many ways to contribute to the development of the nation.
Thomas D'Arcy McGee (April 13, 1825-April 7, 1868) was an Irish-Canadian author and chief political speaker of the Canadian Confederation movement. An Irish patriot, McGee was related to The Nation in 1846-1848, the literary organ of the Youthful Ireland political movement. He held ministerial posts in various governments during the 1860s, and he played a vital and leading part in the movement that brought about the confederation of the Canadian colonies in 1867. As per his belief that literature and cultural nationalism must follow along with political involvement, he encouraged the improvement of Canadian culture and wrote nationalist poetry. He was killed in Ottawa, probably for comments made against the Canadian nationalist and the Irish patriots in Canada. Selections from McGee's works appeared in two edited collections: The Poems of Thomas D'Arcy McGee in 1869 and D'Arcy McGee: A Collection of Speeches and Addresses in 1937.
