Sim demonstrates a fine eye for nuance in a well-researched and clearly written study that contributes significantly to works on Irish American nationalism, transnational political history, and the history of U.S. foreign policy.- William Jenkins (Journal of American History) With this book, David Sim extends that growing understanding of the importance of Ireland and its American diaspora into the period from the 1840s to the 1890s. One intriguing aspect of the book is that Sim admits from the start that the Irish-American effort to enlist the United States in an attempt to free Ireland failed. The book is an important contribution to a number of fields. By exploring the role of nonstate actors and public opinion on American foreign relations, A Union Forever adds to the growing exploration of that topic. In its treatment of Irish American nationalism's interest in harnessing American policy, the book expands our understanding of the history of Irish America. Because Sim covers all of this in light of the evolving Anglo-American relationship during the eighteenth century, he provides a better lens through which to explain how the later 'special relationship' evolved. It is an important read for historians of Ireland, Irish America, and American foreign relations.- John Day Tully (American Historical Review)
