Decimated by famine and emigration, and divided by Irish rule, the people of Ireland sought unity in Home Rule. This idea bound together the varieties of Irish nationalism. It has united British and Irish politicians in the quest for an agreed settlement in Ireland; it has linked Ulster Unionists and Irish Nationalists. In this book, Alvin Jackson examines the development of Home Rule and devolution in Ireland from the 19th century to the present, with a focus on high politics. He traces some of the main themes in Irish peacemaking from the late Victorian period to the beginning of the millennium, including the Good Friday Agreement. Drawing on new archival evidence, Jackson presents a balanced view of Irish political history and contemporary affairs.