This collection investigates the multifaceted nature of Irish romantic expression through a curated selection of historical and literary texts. Edna O'Brien, a prominent Irish novelist and short story writer, compiles these pieces to examine how love, desire, and longing have been articulated within the Irish cultural consciousness. By organizing the material into thematic sections, she provides a framework that contrasts the profane with the desperate, and the male perspective with the female experience.

Critics often note that O'Brien's selection reflects her own distinct literary sensibilities and her preoccupation with the complexities of human intimacy. Scholars frequently highlight this work as a personal, idiosyncratic exploration of the Irish heart rather than an objective academic anthology.