The Writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone 1763-98

This edition of the writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763-98), barrister, United Irishman, agent of the Catholic Committee, and officer in the French revolutionary army, is intended to comprehend all his writings and largely to supersede the two volume Life of Theobald Wolfe Tone...written by himself that was edited by his son and published in 1826. It consists mainly of Tone's correspondence, diaries, autobiography, pamphlets, public addresses, and miscellaneous memoranda. It is based on the original MSS if extant or the most reliable printed sources.

Tone's participation in Irish politics in the early 1790s and his presence on the periphery of the ruling circle in revolutinary France from February 1796 to September 1798 is enough to make his writings a major historical source. However the literary quality of his writings, diaries, and autobiography enhance this importance.
This volume is the second of three volumes and covers Tone's attempt to settle in America, the early days in France, his negotiations with the Directory, his entry into the French army, and the expedition to Bantry Bay. Preceded by Tone's Career in Ireland to June 1795 (1998), it is to be followed by France, the Rhine, Lough Swilly, and Death of Tone, January 1797 to November 1798. Addenda, corrigenda, a bibliography of Theobald Wolfe Tone, and an index to all three volumes will appear in the third volume.

Readership: Scholars and students of Irish history; historians of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic era.

Edited by the late T. W. Moody, R. B. McDowell, Emeritus Fellow, Trinity College, Dublin, and C. J. Woods, Research Editor, Dictionary of Irish Biography

"This second volume of Tone's writings covers what is probably the most important period of his career ... This volume, like the first in the series, is a superb example of scholarly editing. It is meticulously annotated ... In particular, the editors have done a tremendous job in tracking down the sources of the numerous literary quotations that stud Tone's writings ... The two volumes already produced form an invaluable source for those interested in Tone and in the 1790s generally. One looks forward to the final volume which will complete this definitive edition of Tone's writings." - Eighteenth Century Ireland

"Splendid new edition ... given the legendary attention to detail of C.J. Woods, and the quality of the footnotes, this edition is likely to be definitive ... On current form this long-awaited edition of Tone's writings is set fair to be one of the most important publishing ventures of recent decades." - Marianne Elliott, Times Literary Supplement (and English Historical Review)

"This is a monumental work that generations of scholars and students will profit from and enjoy ... This volume of The Writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone reinforces the positive impression of the man and the industry of his editors generated by the publication three years ago of the first of the planned three volume series." - Irish Economic and Social History

"The publication of volume two of the Clarendon Press edition of 'the writings' of Theobald Wolfe Tone will be widely welcomed ... a handsome and well-crafted work." - Irish Economic and Social History

America, France and Bantry Bay, August 1795 to December 1796
The Documents