“The scope includes all works of fiction published in volume form, and dealing with Ireland or with the Irish abroad, and such works only. [It is not] a guide to the works of Irish novelists. Neither is it, properly speaking, a book of advice as to what is best to read.”
– from the author’s Preface.
About 1,700 titles are included, mostly annotated, arranged by author. There are also notes for each author. At the end are a number of lists, as follows:

-Historical Fiction
-Gaelic Epic and Romantic Literature
-Folk-Lore and Legend
-Fairy Tales for Children
-Catholic Clerical Life
-Humorous Books
-Books for Boys