Interdisciplinary and transnational in scope, this book analyzes an array of state theories, literary figures, religious apparatuses, cultural artifacts, and political movements to demonstrate how the Irish not only fitted into, but also helped to form, the US racial state. "ONeill has produced an incisive work, well researched and theoretically informed. This is a book that raises important questions about the nature of Irish migration to, and assimilation in, the American racial state." Aidan Beatty, Wayne State University "...a valuable contribution to the fields of Irish and American studies. It addresses important issues and offers new insights. Moreover, it is impressive in its scope: ONeill discusses a wide variety of primary sources, including newspaper articles, illustrations, legislative texts, plays, poetry and literature. Each chapter is supported by a substantial amount of references and an ample bibliography and ONeill succeeds in tying all these sources together in a coherent and astute manner." Lindsay Janssen, English Studies "Revelatory Famine Irish is the best book about the Irish in America ever written..." Eamonn McCann, Hot Press