Here's the next best thing to a trip to Ireland. Rich with illustrations and beautiful color photographs, this 416-page volume is a comprehensive survey of that country's history and culture, from the pre-Christian era through the creation of the United Kingdom and into the 20th century, right up to the recent economic boom. There's plenty more, including a dictionary of clans and families, a glorious appreciation of the landscape organized by county, and a selection of classic Irish recipes.