O’DRISCOL, John. The History of Ireland.

Two volumes. London: Printed for Longman Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1827. First edition. Octavo. pp. (1) xv, [1], 417, [1], (2) [iv], 400. Modern quarter green morocco on marbled boards. Spines divided into six panels by five gilt raised bands, title and author in gilt on contrasting purple and brown morocco labels in the second and third, the remainder with a gilt harp at centre. Top edges gilt. A fine set in a very attractive binding. Very scarce.
John O’Driscol, a distinguished Corkman, barrister and historian, became Chief Justice of the Isle of Dominica in the West Indies and died at his post there on the 3rd June, 1828. His burial on the island was attended by the Governor and all the public dignitaries of the Colony. Concerned with the deplorable policies of previous administrations and the ignorance in Great Britain respecting Ireland, John O’Driscol decided to redress this situation by proposing radical changes and improvements for his country: “The destiny of Ireland has been singular. Voltaire thought she was fore-doomed to slavery: but this brilliant writer was mistaken. This fate is reserved for the willing slave only ... Never were there more turbulent and reluctant slaves than the Irish.” O’Driscol wrote several works on the sociology and history of Ireland. He died a year after the publication of this book.
His son William Justin O’Driscol practised as a barrister in Dublin, and was residing at Mountjoy Square when he wrote the biography of his boyhood friend and fellow townsman Daniel Maclise.
First edition of O’Driscol’s comprehensive and elegantly written history, tracing Ireland’s political, religious, and social development from the earliest periods to the post-Union era. Written with a tone of moderation and rational inquiry, O’Driscol sought to present a balanced account amid the heated sectarian and political divisions of his day. His narrative, though patriotic in sympathy, is notable for its even-handed assessment of English rule and its emphasis on Ireland’s cultural and moral resilience.

[L3 8F]