First published almost thirty years ago, this work ranges far and wide over the neglected field of Irish social history. It is one of two major, now classical works by K. H. Connell, written when he was Professor of Economic and Social History at Queen's University Belfast.

As a historian Professor Connell had a highly individualistic style, avoided generalizations and scrupulously documented his assertions. Much of his wealth of documentation was drawn from the parliamentary papers, but he also used the invaluable material for social history collected by the Irish Folklore Commission, as well as the conclusions drawn by various commentators on the Irish social scene in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.