CUSACK, M.F. A History of The Irish Nation. Social, Ecclesiastical, Biographical, Industrial and Antiquarian (In fine binding)

Illustrated. London: J.G. Murdoch, 41 Castle Street, Holborn, [1876]. First edition. Large quarto. pp. viii, 968. pp. xvi, 956, [18 (unnumbered leaves of plates, illustrations, portraits)]. Additional engraved titlepage. Handsomely bound in contemporary half green morocco, spine richly decorated with gilt harps and shamrocks, title in gilt on red label, name of Sgt. James O’Malley, R.I.C. in gilt on green morocco label at heel; comb-marbled endpapers; red and gold endbands. Some light rubbing and mild wear, but overall a fine and most attractive copy. All edges marbled. Very rare in this state.
Cusack wrote extensively, from pamphlets to books, biographies of saints, prelates and nationalist leaders. By 1870 more than 200,000 copies of her works had circulated throughout the world. The money made from her publications went to feed the poor in her community at Kenmare. Margaret Anna was the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and established communities of her order in Nottingham, and Newark, New Jersey. A woman before her time she was misunderstood and reviled and became embroiled in quarrels with the hierarchy in various parts of Ireland and America. Because of her outspoken views and her support of many radical causes she was not popular with all Roman Catholics and in 1888 she returned to the Anglican Communion after an altercation with her bishop. Margaret Anna Cusack, ‘the nun of Kenmare,’ died in 1899, aged sixty-seven, and was buried in a Church of England reserved burial site at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

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