Alice Stopford Green Navigates the Publishing Process

Alice Stopford Green (1847–1929) was a nationalist and historian with a focus on social history. She published many texts over the years including revised editions of the work of her husband, John Richard Green; a new history of medieval Ireland; and also, secondary school textbooks.

One of her most influential texts is titled The Making of Ireland and Its Undoing (1911). Her work often “sought to establish a highly developed state of Ireland’s political institutions before the Anglo-Invasion.”

Dr Richard Irvine Best was enamoured with Celtic civilisation and is well-known for completing the index Bibliography of Irish philology and of printed Irish literature (1913). He joined the staff of the National Library in 1904, before becoming Chief Librarian and Director from 1924 to 1940.

A good starting point is a letter to Best dated from 24 January, 1912. Green starts by saying:

“I want now as quickly as possible to bring out a little volume of papers—a lecture on History in Ireland; one on the Irish Trade Routes by sea; a paper on Margaret O’Conor Faly; the little address I gave to the Corinthian Club; and perhaps another paper.”

At this early point, no title or other information is given. However, if we continue to sift through the letters in the Alice Stopford Green Collection we can trace the birth of this book, which is now held within the NLI collection, and follow Green as she navigates the printing and publishing process.

Green wanted control over her materials, particularly regarding circulation in Ireland. The letters show some of her internal musings as to the course of action to take—would she pay for printing herself, and then hand the book to two different publishers, with one in England and one in Ireland? As she lay out the basic ideas of her plan, she posed these questions to Best:

“I might therefore have the names of two publishers, in Dublin and London. Do you think that I could trust the Tempest of Dundalk to give me estimates and to print? And would Hodges and Figgis be the best Dublin publishers, or do you think Gill, or Brown and Nolan would be more sympathetic to Irish feeling?” 

This note provides an entryway to exploring the world of publishing in Dublin during the early 20th century.  

Green mentions Hodges and Figgis, which would be one of the most recognisable companies today. Hodges Figgis, the oldest bookshop in Dublin and also third oldest bookshop in the world, has seen several iterations over its long history.

It was founded in 1768 by John Milliken at 10 Skinner’s Row, now known as Christchurch Place. While today it is known for bookselling, publishing was included in its services for nearly 200 years. In 1834, the company was taken over by Hodges and Smith, a booksellers in College Green. Hodges and Smith had been the official booksellers and publishers to the university. This shift signalled a “more liberal look towards Ireland and books of Irish interest.”

By 1882, Hodges, Figgis and Co. was the latest evolution of the bookshop. Records between 1876 and 1900 show that Hodges Figgis published nearly 500 books in this time span amounting to a rate of over 20 a year. The closest rival publisher in Dublin, M.H. Gill, did not have a comparable rate over those years. However, in the early 1900s this gap would decrease.  

The M.H. Gill publishing house was a long-standing family affair. It was founded in 1856 when Michael Henry Gill bought the premises and copyright for James McGlashan, a firm he had been doing printing work for. This officially became M.H. Gill & Son in 1876. M.H. Gill’s son, Henry Joseph Gill, turned the firm into the main Catholic publishing house in Ireland. He was a founding member of the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language and printed all their materials. Though Gill ceased printing in 1966, they continue bookselling and publishing today.  

A staunch nationalist, Stopford kept this attitude close when searching for a publisher, asking Best which of the options she presented “would be more sympathetic to Irish feeling.”  

In The History of Irish Book Publishing, publisher and author Tony Farmar argues that book publishing history is often overlooked. Farmar’s philosophy is firmly set within the idea that the history of a book can show ‘mentalities.’ Or as one book historian William St. Clair says, they illuminate the “beliefs, feelings, values and dispositions to act in certain ways that are prevalent in society at a particular and cultural conjecture.” A book publisher can highlight certain worldviews and make decisions on the writing’s worth.

This sentiment, about societal beliefs and the timing of a book’s arrival in the public sphere, must have been understood by Green. She was frustrated by the drawn-out process and a few weeks later on 5 February she wrote Dr Best a postcard with a few updates on the situation writing:

“These delays make me very doubtful about Irish publication, as I think it is very important to get the book out now while people are discussing Ireland.”  

Green’s notice to timing was warranted and illustrated in a review of the book posted in The Liverpool Weekly Post on June 29, 1912 where the author stated:

“Then there is Ireland. We have had a deal of talk about Ireland lately, and, if the breath of the valorous Ulster men is to be relied upon, shall hear a huge lot more by-and-bye.”  

In her January 24 letter, Green questions her planning and writes:

“Possibly my best plan would be to have the printing done myself in Ireland; then to give the book to the Macmillan’s, with a Dublin publisher second. The matter is a little perplexing.” 

By February 12, in another letter to Dr Best, it had been decided that Gill would do the printing and Irish publication, with Macmillan binding and publishing in England. Green wrote,:

“From what you say about Gill’s connection, I think it would be best to employ him.” 

(MS 15,114/18/5) 

Gill was known for publishing all of the Gaelic League publications and Douglas Hyde’s personal work—perhaps this was the connection that Dr Best brought to Green’s attention? While Gill’s unclear connections persuaded Green to print with them, over the course of the next week or so, we see an annoyance bloom across the pages of her letters to Best. Discussions of prices that are exceedingly high; want of a formal contract; and replies from Gill that only respond to some of the points she has raised and exclude other matters entirely.

 “They are not in themselves very satisfactory.” 

Green clearly was in two minds over how to proceed based on the clarity and speed that was lacking from Gill—overall, she cared about how the book would enter the public sphere, particularly in Ireland, which is again emphasised by her choice of correspondence with Dr Best of the National Library. She wrote,

“I believe on the whole it is better for me to accept Gill’s terms, though I do not like his having raised them after his well considered estimate. If I went to the Macmillans now he would probably take no trouble to circulate the book in Ireland.” 

(MS 15,114/19/4) 

Up until this point, readers of these letters who are unfamiliar with Green’s work would still not know what book and publication this correspondence is referring to. Though Green lists a few subjects for papers that may make up individual chapters in the book, the actual output is unclear. On March 9, we get the first glimpse of what the final publication would be in a hastily scrawled postcard sent from her address at 36 Grosvenor Road, Westminster with the simple question: “The Way of History in Ireland do for a title?”:

“The Way of History is thought to be too controversial a title. I have decided for The Old Irish World and telegraphed this today to Gill.” 

In the same letter, Green refers to sending material to Best at “the Library” to look over (MS 15,114/21/4).  

The book was published under the title The Old Irish World later that summer to majority positive reviews (MS 10,429/1/2). On June 1, 1912 The Freeman’s Journal wrote: 

“She has at all events, and it is a great national service, demonstrated the necessity for and has stimulated a new examination of Irish history.” 

Regarding the physicality of the published book, on June 12, 1912, The Limerick Leader exclaimed at the “external charm of a handsome book finely printed and graced with several excellent maps and illustrations.” Sold at the time for 4s., as noted in The Irish Book Lover, a price “within the reach of all—we wonder how it can be done for the money” – today you can view this item free of cost in the National Library of Ireland Reading Room.

You can place an order for The Old Irish World by Alice Stopford Green, call number A16172, using your reader’s ticket and our online order form to read this publication.

A reader’s ticket is required to access all reading rooms and research spaces. You may apply for a reader’s ticket by  using our online application form. 

Further Sources from the NLI:  

• Farmar, Tony. The History of Irish Book Publishing. Dublin; Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press Ireland, 2018. (A31738) 
• Connolly, S. J., ed. The Oxford Companion to Irish History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. (9A 1187) 
• Manuscripts:  Alice Stopford Green Papers Collection & Additional Papers Collection 
• Letters and a postcard from Alice Stopford Green to Richard Irvine Best regarding the publication and printing of Green's work, 1912 Jan. 4 - Feb. 13. (MS 15,114/18)
• Letters and a postcard from Alice Stopford Green to Richard Irvine Best regarding Gill's estimates for the printing of Green's book, 1912 Feb. 24 - March 9. (MS 15,114/19)
• Reviews of 'The Old Irish World' by Alice Stopford Green, 1911-1912. (MS 10,429/1/2)

Additional Sources:  

• Dictionary of Irish Biography 
• Hodgesfiggis.ie & Gillbooks.ie 

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By Anna Wallace Pitts

Education Assistant