The origins of the Irish - J. P. Mallory

Written as an engrossing detective story by the leading authority on the subject, this is the first major account in nearly a century to deal with the core issues of how the Irish people came into being. Bringing together the evidence of archaeology, culture, tradition, genetics and linguistics to shed welcome new light on the age-old riddle of Irish origins, and illustrated with numerous informative line drawings and maps, this brilliantly argued book is essential reading for anyone interested in Ireland and the Irish.

J. P. Mallory is a world expert on the interconnection of archaeology and linguistics and is the author of the standard work In Search of the Indo-Europeans and The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European. He has published numerous other works, including the hugely acclaimed The Origins of the Irish. He is Emeritus Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at Queen's University Belfast and a member of the Royal Irish Academy.

'So important ... It was very difficult to put down ... Wonderful' - History Today

'Mallory's wry, convivial style makes this complex account an effortless and enjoyable read' - Current Archaeology

'Mallory brilliantly synthesizes the complexities of geology, archaeology, historical/mythical sources, genetics and linguistics ... I urge you to read this brilliant book' - Minerva

'Superb and witty … as a tour d'horizon, it is unmatched' - The Irish Times