This mighty volume is nothing less than an attempt to establish a canon of Irish literature, a "great books" course that would give the reader a definitive overview of the course of Irish literature since bardic times, in Irish and English. As such, it goes somewhat against the grain of its subject, which is notoriously non-canonical, tending to rebel against the kind of fixity and closure that the word "classic" implies. However, Kiberd pursues his chosen task with great vigour and clarity, and much of what he has to say about individual writers is enlightening and original. As one reads on, though, a somewhat deadening and dispiriting uniformity begins to declare itself: many of the writers seem to be saying much the same thing. For some readers, myself included, the effect is to reduce the specificity of each author and incorporate them in a national narrative which is, at best, only one of many. One admires the verve and scope of the performance, but it is hard not to feel that works of synthesis such as this are not really Irish literature's cup of tea.