This uncommon collection offers twenty hidden gems from Ireland's past, shedding new light on the illustrious literary history of the Irish at home and abroad. Readers can explore what it means to be Irish through the words of not just the famous authors but also the lesser-known ones, who are often difficult to find in anthologies and deserve wider publication. Writers include Oscar Wilde, who recounts his famous trip across America in 1882, playwright and humorist John Brougham, and essayist and poet Mary Boyle O'Reilly. The book also includes some of Ireland's famous legends and stories translated from ancient Irish texts.