Cutting across geographical boundaries, literary genres and historical periods, Irish and Postcolonial Writing examines the complex, sometimes contested legacy of Ireland's postcolonial history. From the Act of Union to the present day, these essays consider how Irish writing responded to the history of colonial contact, in what ways in drew on the experience of other cultures, and how those comparative histories were translated and utilised. Opening with a number of essays dealing with the theoretical implications of a postcolonial reading of Ireland, the book's three-part structure then presents a series of comparative essays which appraise Ireland in relation to the Caribbean, the Orient, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, while a final section offers a number of readings of twentieth century writers. Underlining the necessity for an integration of history, theory and practice, these essays examine a range of influences and interconnections, with contributors engaging with debates within cultural and gender studies, historiography, and nationalism. A much needed response to the expanding interest in Irish and Postcolonial studies, this essay collection brings together the work of several established as well as younger scholars.