This book investigates whether the colonial framework is a valid or accurate lens through which to interpret Irish history and contemporary culture. Stephen Howe, a scholar of imperial history, evaluates the competing arguments surrounding the application of postcolonial theory to Ireland. He examines the political and academic motivations behind these debates, contrasting the perspectives of Irish Republicans, Ulster Unionists, and various cultural critics to determine the utility of the colonial label.

Experts recognize this work as a rigorous and balanced examination of a highly contentious historiographical debate. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those studying the intersection of Irish history and imperial studies.