1. The Principal Irish Publishers:—

Note.—None of these publishers, with the exception of Messrs. Maunsel, has a London house. The London address of Messrs. Maunsel is 40 Museum Street, W.C.

2. IRISH NATIONAL TALES AND ROMANCES. Nineteen Vols. (Colburn). 1833.

By Lady Morgan (O’Briens and O’Flahertys), J. Banim (The Anglo-Irish), E. E. Crowe (Yesterday in Ireland), Thomas Colley Grattan (Tales of Travel), &c. This series is occasionally to be met with on sale at second hand.

3. DOWNEY & CO.’S IRISH NOVELISTS’ LIBRARY. Edmund Downey, General Editor. Biographical sketch prefixed to each volume, and portrait of Author. Price, 2s. 6d., cloth.

Included:—

O’DONNEL. By Lady Morgan. Biography by Mrs. Cashel Hoey.

ORMOND. By Maria Edgeworth. Biography by Mrs. Cashel Hoey.

FARDOROUGHA THE MISER. By W. Carleton. Biography by D. J. O’Donoghue.

THE EPICUREAN. By Thomas Moore. Biography by E. Downey.

RORY O’MORE. By Samuel Lover. Biography by Mrs. Cashel Hoey.

THE COLLEGIANS. By Gerald Griffin. Biography by E. Downey.

THE O’DONOGHUE. By Charles Lever. Biography by E. Downey.

TORLOGH O’BRIEN. By J. Sheridan Lefanu. Biography by E. Downey.

Downey & Co. issued, 1902, paper-covered, well printed, on good paper, a Sixpenny Library of Novels, many of which were by Irish authors such as Lever, Banim, Lady Morgan, Lover, and Carleton. Irish novels were included in several other series published by this firm.

4. CHEAP POPULAR FICTION published by Cameron & Ferguson, of Glasgow. The publications of this firm were taken over by Messrs. Washbourne, who keep in print such of them as were of any value.

THE GREEN AND THE RED; or, Historical Tales and Legends of Ireland. Picture boards, 1s.

GERALD AND AUGUSTA; or, the Irish Aristocracy: A Novel, 1s.

THE MISTLETOE AND THE SHAMROCK: a National Tale. 1s.

BILLY BLUFF AND THE SQUIRE: a Picture of Ulster in 1796. 6d.

THE IRISH GIRL; or, the True Love and the False. 6d.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE PALE; or, Ireland 400 Years Ago. 256 pp. 6d.

5. SEALY, BRYERS & WALKER’S SIXPENNY LIBRARY OF FICTION.

OWEN DONOVAN, FENIAN. By Graves O’Mara. A Tale of the ’67 Rising.

CAPTAIN HARRY. By J. H. Lepper. A Tale of the Royalist Wars.

A SOWER OF THE WIND. By Cahir Healy. A Tale of the Land League.

OLAF THE DANE. By John Denvir. A Story of Donegal.

THE GAELS OF MOONDHARRIG. By Rev. J. Dollard. A Tale of the Famous Kilkenny Hurlers.

FRANK MAXWELL. By J. H. Lepper. A Royalist Tale of 1641.

PAUL FARQUHAR’S LEGACY. By J. G. Rowe. A Thrilling Tale of Mining Life in South Africa.

ONLY A LASS. By Ruby M. Duggan. A Tale of Girl School Life.

THE STRIKE. By T. J. Rooney. A Tale of the Dublin Liberties.

BULLY HAYES, BLACKBIRDER. By J. G. Rowe. An Adventure Tale of the South Seas.

THE ENCHANTED PORTAL. By Mary Lowry. A Tale of the Giant’s Causeway.

STORMY HALL. By M. L. Thompson. A Thrilling Tale of Adventure.

TOLD IN THE TWILIGHT. By Robert Cromie. A Romance of the Norwegian Fjords.

BY THE STREAM OF KILMEEN. By Seamas O’Kelly. Exquisite Sketches of Irish Life.

THE MACHINATIONS OF CISSY. By Mrs. Pierre Pattison. A Tale of a Sister’s Jealousy.

WHEN STRONG WILLS CLASH. By Annie Collins. A Tale of Love and Pride.

THE HUMOURS OF A BLUE DEVIL IN THE ISLE OF SAINTS. By Alan Warrener. A Tale of the Love Escapades of a certain Captain.

THE HONOUR OF THE DESBOROUGHS. By Rita Richmond. Concerns the Love Affairs of Honor Desborough, and a fight for an Estate.

THE LUCK OF THE KAVANAGHS. By C. J. Hamilton. Relates the extraordinary Adventures of an Emigrant Irish Boy.

THE DOCTOR’S LOCUM-TENENS. By Lizzie C. Read.

LADY GREVILLE’S ERROR. By Mrs. Watt.

SWEET NELLIE O’FLAHERTY. By T. A. Brewster.

6. “IRELAND’S OWN” LIBRARY.

This excellent popular periodical, the circulation of which in England and abroad as well as in Ireland is very considerable, is bringing out cheap reprints of stories and other features that have appeared in its pages. The following is a list of the Library to date:—

RED RAPPAREE. By Desmond Lough.

BARNEY THE BOYO. By L. A. Finn.

THE BLACK WING. By Desmond Lough.

TRACKED. By V. O’D. Power.

IRELAND’S OWN SONG BOOK.

THE LEAGUE OF THE RING and TORN APART. By Morrough O’Brien.

Each price 6d. Address:—“The People” Printing and Publishing Works, Wexford; or, 11 Sackville Place, Dublin.

7. DUFFY’S POPULAR LITERATURE. Messrs. Duffy publish and keep in print very cheap editions of the standard Irish novelists.

(1) The following by Carleton: The Black Baronet, The Evil Eye, Valentine M’Clutchey, Willy Reilly, Art Maguire, Paddy-go-Easy, The Poor Scholar, Traits and Stories (1s.); The Red Well, Rody the Rover, Redmond Count O’Hanlon. (2) All Griffin’s works, at 2s. each. (3) All Kickham’s novels. (4) Banim’s Boyne Water and The Croppy, at 2s. 6d. each. (5) Many stories by Lever, Mgr. O’Brien, Mrs. Sadlier, &c., noticed in the body of this work.

Besides these, Messrs. Duffy issue seven or eight series of popular fiction. The volumes of these series are neatly, in many cases tastefully, bound, and very cheap. Many, however, are old-fashioned in turn-out, and printed from old founts. The majority of the stories are moral and religious in tendency, but by no means all. The literary standard in some is not very high, but in many it is good. Of “Prize Library,” Series I. (42 titles), Mrs. Sadlier’s Daughter of Tyrconnell is an example; of II. (20 titles), the same author’s Willy Burke; of III. (24 titles), Curtis’s Rory of the Hills, and Anon. The Robber Chieftain. Series IV. has 16 titles, 2s. 6d. each; V., 15 titles, at 3s.; VI., 9 titles at 3s. 6d. There is also a “Popular Library” at 6d., “for the instruction of youth,” and a “Juvenile Library,” with 24 stories, at 1d. each.

8. MESSRS. M. H. GILL & SONS.

This firm (originally McGlashan, then McGlashan & Gill) has behind it a long history of publication, most of the books issued by it being Irish in subject. At present the catalogue of its publications contains various popular series or “libraries” at more or less uniform prices. None of these consist exclusively of fiction. The “Green Cloth Library” is one of them.

9. THE CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY OF IRELAND (C.T.S.I.).[15]

The main object of this Society is religious and moral propaganda, but it aims also at fostering among the people an interest in their country—its history, antiquities, ruins, scenery, &c. Cheap popular fiction is one of the chief vehicles of this propaganda, and it has published in the fifteen years of its existence—it was founded in 1899—upwards of a hundred penny booklets, besides the shilling series mentioned below. Nearly all these stories are Irish in subject. Most of them are distinctively Catholic in tone, and a number of them aim directly or indirectly at religious instruction. But there are a fairly considerable number which simply tell tales of ancient Ireland in pagan as well as in Christian times. The importance of the work of this Society may be gathered from the fact that since its start it has distributed over seven million copies of its publications. All that can be done here is to give a list of the stories published by the C.T.S.I., indicating the nature of the contents of some of them.

T. B. Cronin.—THE COLLEEN FROM THE MOOR.

— THE BOY FROM OVER THE HILL.

These are two stories of Kerry life, deservedly popular.

Mary Maher.—THE IRISH EMIGRANT’S ORPHAN.

Lady Gilbert (Rosa Mulholland).—A MOTHER OF EMIGRANTS.

Nano Tobin.—NANCY DILLON’S CHOICE and FROM TEXAS TO INCHRUE.

A. Cunningham.—PASSAGE TICKETS.

Four emigration stories.

E. F. Kelly.—KEVIN O’CONNOR.

Religious persecutions in 17th cent. at home and in convict settlements.

Alicia Golding.—ELLEN RYAN.

Land troubles.

Patricia Dillon.—IN THE WAKE OF THE ARMADA.

Home life of native Irish chiefs and their intercourse with continent, end of 16th century.

Mary T. McKenna.—MAUREEN DOHERTY: the Story of a Trinket.

Anna M. Martin.—MAHON’S LEAP.

S. Sligo in ’98.

Alice Dease.—ON THE BROAD ROAD.

A Story of the White Slave Traffic.

K. M. Gaughan.—SHEELAH: the Story of a Mixed Marriage.

Myles V. Ronan, C.C.—WOMAN’S INFLUENCE: a Dublin Hospital Romance.

— THE HOUSE OF JULIANSTOWN; or, a Flight for the Faith.

Days of the Volunteers. Historically true.

M. Sullivan.—THE DESERTER AND OTHER STORIES.

Very nicely told.

MacDonagh (Mary L.), née Burroughs Parker.—THREE TIPPERARY BOYS.

One of whom, a minister’s son, is converted and marries Delia.

Lady Gilbert.—AVOURNEEN.

A waif cast up by the sea on the island of Inishglas, and his life among the islanders.

— THE GHOST IN THE RATH.

— MRS. BLAKE’S NEXT OF KIN.

Delia Gleeson.—WHERE THE TURF FIRES BURN.

Others by Lucy M. Curd, Nora F. Degidon, S. A. Turk, &c., and a series of thirteen stories entitled The Emerald Library.

For M. J. O’Mullane’s stories, see in the body of the book under his name.

TEMPERANCE STORIES.

A BATCH OF SACRIFICES. By Rev. Frederick C. Kolbe, D.D.

THE STRIKE; or, The Drunkard’s Fate.

THE BROKEN HEART and THE MISER’S DEATH.

DONAL’S EXTRAVAGANCE. By Rev. David McKee, C.C.

REAPING THE WHIRLWIND. By Molly Malone.

HELENA’S SON. By Nora F. Degidon.

THE CHILD OF HIS HEART. By Mary T. McKenna.

MIKE HANLON’S MOTHER-IN-LAW. By K. Gaughan.

MORE TEMPERANCE STORIES. By Alice Dease.

THE IONA SERIES. A new venture of the Irish Catholic Truth Society. Consists of 16mo volumes, prettily bound in cloth, with frontispiece. Price 1s.

THE COMING OF THE KING. A Jacobite Romance. By Arthur Synan.

HIAWATHA’S BLACK ROBE. Father Marquette, S.J. By E. Leahy.

PEGGY THE MILLIONAIRE. By Mary Costello.

EARL OR CHIEFTAIN? The Romance of Hugh O’Neill. By Patricia Dillon.

ISLE OF COLUMBCILLE. A Pilgrimage and a Sketch. By Shane Leslie.

THE GOLDEN LAD. A Story of Child Life. By Molly Malone.

A LIFE’S AMBITION. Ven. Philippine Duchesne. By M. T. Kelly.

THE MAKING OF JIM O’NEILL. A Story of Seminary Life. By M. J. F.

NICHOLAS CARDINAL WISEMAN. By Rev. Joseph E. Canavan, S.J.

THE SORROW OF LYCADOON. By Mrs. Thomas Concannon, M.A.

THE EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS. A Study in Ideals. By John C. Joy, S.J.

A GROUP OF NATION BUILDERS—O’DONOVAN, O’CURRY, PETRIE. By Rev. P. M. MacSweeney, M.A.

10. THE CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY.

Address, 69 Southwark Bridge Rd., London, S.E. This is the original Society, founded in 1884, on the model of which the Irish, Scottish, and Australian bodies were founded. It has on its lists a few Irish stories. Lady Gilbert has written a certain number for it, e.g., Penal Days, Nellie. Her sister Clara Mulholland has published through it a little shilling volume: Some Stories (also in penny parts); Katharine Tynan another shilling volume: The Land I love best; Alice Dease: Some Irish Stories, 6d. (and in penny parts); and “M. E. Francis” has also some stories.

11. MESSENGER OFFICE.

The Office of the little periodical The Irish Messenger of the S. Heart, Gt. Denmark St., Dublin, publishes penny booklets of a kind similar to those of the Catholic Truth Societies. Here are some of the titles:—

JOE CALLINAN. (In its 20th thousand).

No. 18 BLANK ST. (85th thousand).

THE TRAIL OF THE TRAITOR. (35th thousand). A story of Cromwell’s sack of Wexford.

KATHLEEN’S PILGRIMAGE. (25th thousand). A tale of Lough Derg.

TEMPERANCE STORIES. By M. A. C. (15th thousand).

The fiction in the Irish Messenger itself and in the Madonna is almost always of an Irish complexion. The circulation of the former of these is over 170,000 a month.

12. EVERY IRISHMAN’S LIBRARY.

A new (Autumn, 1915) enterprise of The Talbot Press, 89 Talbot Street, Dublin. The aim is to bring out in a cheap (2s. 6d.) but worthy form both well-known works by Irishmen about Ireland and new works. The Editors-in-chief are Mr. Alfred Percival Graves, Prof. William Magennis, and Dr. Douglas Hyde. It hopes to include every department of Irish literature—poetry, fiction, oratory, sport and travel, history, wit and humour, essays and belles lettres, politics, biography, art, music and the drama. Each book is in the hands of a competent editor, so that none of the books in the series are mere reprints. The volumes have been designed, printed, and bound (cloth, Celtic design in green and gold) in Ireland. The publication has been greatly interfered with by the war. The first six volumes, which are as follows, do not include a work of fiction, but Griffin’s “Collegians” and Carleton’s Stories will be in the next batch.

Now Ready:—

THOMAS DAVIS. Selections from his Prose and Poetry. Edited by T. W. Rolleston, M.A.

WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. By W. H. Maxwell. Edited by the Earl of Dunraven.

LEGENDS OF SAINTS AND SINNERS. From the Irish. Edited by Douglas Hyde, LL.D.

HUMOURS OF IRISH LIFE. Edited by Charles L. Graves, M.A. (Oxon.).

IRISH ORATORS AND ORATORY. Edited by Professor T. M. Kettle, National University of Ireland.

THE BOOK OF IRISH POETRY. Edited by Alfred Perceval Graves, M.A.

13. MAUNSEL & Co., Ltd.

Has in course of publication two series of novels and stories by Irish writers, viz.:—

(1). A series at 1s., bound in red cloth, crown 8vo size, with excellent paper and printing. It includes the following books:—

THE NORTHERN IRON. By George A. Birmingham.

BALLYGULLION. By Lynn Doyle.

THE GLADE IN THE FOREST. By Stephen Gwynn.

THE PRISONER OF HIS WORD. By Louie Bennett.

CAMBIA CARTY. By William Buckley.

(2). A series at 2s., crown 8vo., cloth; equal in get-up to the average 6s. novel. The following is a list of the books hitherto published in this series:—

MRS. MARTIN’S MAN. By St. John G. Ervine.

THE BLIND SIDE OF THE HEART. By F. E. Crichton.

COUNTRYMEN ALL. By Katharine Tynan.

THE ONE OUTSIDE. By Mary Fitzpatrick.

14. AMERICAN PUBLISHERS OF IRISH BOOKS.

A great many American publishers bring out books on Irish subjects: few specialize in this line. On the whole little new fiction of an Irish complexion is published in the States. On the other hand a large number of Irish tales and novels which have been allowed to go out of print in this country are still reprinted and sold on the “other side.” Many such books will be found in the catalogues of such firms as Benziger Bros., of New York; P. J. Kenedy, of the same city; Flynn, of Boston; John Murphy Co., of Baltimore; McVey, of Philadelphia, &c. J. S. Pratt, of 161 6th Ave., nr. 12th St., N.Y., publishes a catalogue containing Irish items exclusively.