In 1916, Eamon de Valera arrived on the Irish scene and as a result, so we are told, the fairies left. Such combining of fact and folklore is the essence of Peter Somerville-Large's fascinating history of fifty years of life in Ireland, from 1916 to 1966. This book does not shrink from describing the tragedies and poverty of those years, while brimming with cultural, domestic and political detail, unsullied by either proselytism or sentimentality. Throughout, the reader can hear the voices of the Irish: comments on the frequent crises in the country by contemporary writers, both famous and obscure, are seamlessly woven into the text, as are direct memories of those who lived through the events described. Peter Somerville-Large has a talent for observation, and his interest in the people he writes about is palpable. That Irish Voices is not just a history, but a history of life, is significant - a joy to read.