Compellingly written and evenhanded in its judgments, this is by far the clearest account of what has happened through the years in the Northern Ireland conflict, and why. Mr. McKittrick and Mr. McVea tell the story clearly, concisely, and, above all, fairly. The book includes a detailed chronology, statistical tables, and a glossary of terms. "If you want a frank, accurate and authoritative account you cannot do much better.... Likely to be the definitive account."–Irish Independent.

Compellingly written and even-handed in its judgments, this is by far the clearest account of what has happened through the years in the Northern Ireland conflict, and why. After a chapter of background on the period from 1921 to 1963, it covers the ensuing period—the descent into violence, the hunger strikes, the Anglo-Irish accord, the bombers in England—to the present shaky peace process. Behind the deluge of information and opinion about the conflict, there is a straightforward and gripping story. Mr. McKittrick and Mr. McVea tell that story clearly, concisely, and, above all, fairly, avoiding intricate detail in favor of narrative pace and accessible prose. They describe and explain a lethal but fascinating time in Northern Ireland's history, which brought not only death, injury, and destruction but enormous political and social change. They close on an optimistic note, convinced that while peace—if it comes—will always be imperfect, a corner has now been decisively turned. The book includes a detailed chronology, statistical tables, and a glossary of terms.

Part 1 Introduction ix
Part 2 THE STATIC SOCIETY 1
Chapter 3 1921-63
Part 4 THE O'NEILL YEARS 26
Chapter 5 1963-69
Part 6 DESCENT INTO VIOLENCE 53
Chapter 7 1969-71
Part 8 THE END OF STORMONT 76
Chapter 9 1972-73
Part 10 SUNNINGDALE, STRIKE & STALEMATE 98
Chapter 11 1974-76
Part 12 FROM CASTLEREAGH TO WARRENPOINT 118
Chapter 13 1977-79
Part 14 THE HUNGERSTRIKES 134
Chapter 15 1981-81
Part 16 ANGLO-IRISH ACCORD 149
Chapter 17 1982-85
Part 18 ENNISKILLEN, LIBYA & BOMBS IN ENGLAND 167
Chapter 19 1986-93
Part 20 PEACE PROCESS 184
Chapter 21 1993-94
Part 22 DECOMMISSIONING, DOCKLANDS & DRUMCREE 200
Chapter 23 1994-96
Part 24 BREAKTHROUGH 214
Chapter 25 1997-2001
Part 26 PERSPECTIVES 230
Part 27 CHRONOLOGY 243
Part 28 TABLES 325
Part 29 GLOSSARY 331
Part 30 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES 338
Part 31 INDEX 340