The Irish Times is a pillar of Irish society. Founded in 1859 as the paper of the Irish Protestant Middle Class, it now has a position in Irish political, social and cultural life which is incomparable. In fact this history of the Irish Times is also a history of the Irish people. Always independent in ownership and political view and never entwined in any way with the Roman Catholic Church, it has become the weather vane, the barometer of Irish life and society followed by people of all religious and political persuasions and none. The paper is politically liberal and progressive as well as being centre right on economic issues. This history is peopled by all the great figures of Irish history - Daniel O`Connell, W.B. Yeats, Garret FitzGerald, Conor Cruise O`Brien and the paper has numbered among its internationally renowned columnists Mary Holland, Fintan O'Toole, Nuala O'Faolain, John Waters and Kevin Myers . Its influence on Irish Society is beyond question. In his book, Terence Brown tells the story of the paper with narrative skill, wit and perception. Analysis of the stance of the Times during events ranging from The Easter Rising, The Civil War, the Troubles and the recent economic recession make the book essential reading for students of Irish history, be they the general reader, the academic or amateur historian. The book will be seen as crucial to our understanding of Irish history in the past century and a half.

Author Biography

Terence Brown is Emeritus Professor of English at Trinity College, Dublin. Elected a member of the Irish Academy in 1992, he was also appointed Director of Irish Book Awards in 1987. He has been Visiting Professor at The Sorbonne, The University of New South Wales and is a Member of the International Association of Anglo Irish Literature. He is a senior fellow of TCD. Among his publications are a biography of George Moore, Dissolute Characters, Ireland: A Social and Cultural History 1922-2002, The Life of W.B.Yeats, Louis MacNeice: Sceptical Vision and An Ulster Renaissance: Poets from the North of Ireland.