Dorothy Macardle (1889–1958) was a political and social activist, journalist, novelist, broadcaster, playwright, and one of the most popular and influential Irish historians of her time. Smith’s biography traces her life from her involvement in the War of Independence to her role as a leading civil libertarian in the 1950s. Smith explores her literary career and her international human rights work. An Irish nationalist writer with an international reputation, Macardle was a fascinating woman, and her career sheds light on modern Irish political history, and Irish literature.