The war in Ireland has spanned eight centuries alternately blowing hot and cold appearing at times to fade away only to flare up more forcefully later on According to the experts and the media pundits the conflict is one of religion But Chesterton reveals in Irish Impressions that at heart the problem is one of freedom The Irish man wants to be master in his own home speaking his own language reading his own books and drinking his own whiskey It is a war for the Irish Hearth the Irish Home and ultimately the integrity of the Irish Soul This book is the fruit of Chesterton s short visit to Ireland and his long contemplation of political economic social and family life A thoughtful reading of it can only lead to a genuine understanding of the nature of the conflict and may yet help in bringing peace to both Ireland and England G K Chesterton was a journalist and social critic who wrote almost a hundred books and literally thousands of articles covering an imm