Charles Haughey's political career has spanned the past 35 years of Irish politics and has been controversial throughout much of that time.

He rose quickly, fell often. He became leader of his party and formed four different administrations, all of which provoked wildly diverse criticisms and reactions. He dominated his period as no other politician has done since Eamon de Valera, yet ultimately his downfall came as a result of scandals. His were unlucky deeds contained in Othello's last speech, which Haughey quoted when announcing his resignation. This biography looks at Haughey's life as well as the history of his period. The arms crisis was the most dramatic of the many scandals in his career which created the famous whiff of sulphur so often associated with the mercurial, but ultimately ill-fated performance of this most enigmatic politician.