Explains how William Gladstone responded to the 'Irish Question', and in so doing changed the British and Irish political landscape. Religion, land, self-government and nationalism became subjects of intensive political debate, raising issues about the constitution and national identity of the whole United Kingdom.

List of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Introduction; D.G.Boyce History and Pluralism: Gladstone and the Maynooth Grant Controversy; J.-P.McCarthy Gladstone, Church and State; A.Megahey Anti-Gladstonianism and the pre-1886 Liberal Secession; T.Moore British Liberals and the Irish Home Rule Crisis: the Dynamics of Division; G.Goodlad 'A deplorable narrative': Gladstone, R. Barry O'Brien and the 'historical argument' for Home Rule, 1880-90; I.Sheehy Gladstone and the Ulster Question; N.C.Fleming Burke in Belfast: Thomas MacKnight, Gladstone, and Liberal Unionism; P.Maume The Union of Hearts Depicted: Gladstone, Home Rule and United Ireland; D.W.Bebbington Gladstone and the Irish Civil Service; M.Maguire Accommodation, Conciliation and Cooperation: a Gladstonian Legacy; N.C.Fleming & A.O'Day Gladstone and the Four Nations; D.G.Boyce