Biographical vignettes are the skeleton upon which McCourt weaves his history of Ireland. Broken down into 16 sections, he uses famous Irish men and women to define each epoch, including Patrick, Brigid, Columcille and others; short and colloquial, each provides biographical as well as historical background from early legend through Bono. Instantly accessible with all the sense of a storyteller's recitation, this is a unique lens through which to view Ireland's long history. 400 pages, paperback.