While examining the extent of British censorship in dealing with Irish nationalist newspapers, Dungan provides a fresh consideration of the ways in which United Ireland could be accused of committing the same crimes as those of the British administrations. Making extensive use of unique archival materials, this book establishes the different ways in which both British administrations - that of Gladstone and Salisbury - counteracted the most assertive Irish journalistic and nationalist voice during this turbulent time.

The detail is no less steadfast when it comes to presenting the questionable conduct of United Ireland as they policed the press in order to eliminate points of view that dissented from their own.