This collection investigates how the Republic of Ireland has grappled with its identity and its relationship with partition from 1949 to 1999. The authors, Ray and Ryan, present an original intervention in Irish studies by analyzing the cultural, political, and literary narratives that have shaped the state's understanding of itself and its enduring connection to partition. The work shifts focus from the traditional canon to explore the underlying concepts that profoundly affect Irish intellectual life.

This collection is presented as the first sustained attempt to account for the Republic of Ireland as a cultural entity, offering an original intervention in Irish studies. The work is noted for shifting attention from the traditionally defined canon of Irish culture to address the political and cultural narratives that underlie partition. It provides a timely overview of the concept of the state and its profound effects on Irish intellectual life at many levels.