Chronicles of Eri; Being the history of the Gaal Sciot Iber

About this book

First of 2 volumes in 8vo. f. [1], pp. 509, [3]. Modern original half morocco leather binding over marbled boards, gilt decorated spine with five raised bands & gilt lettering in the 2nd & 4th compartments. Illustrated with two frontispieces, five folding maps, and a folding facsimile manuscript leaf. First edition. While living in Paris, the Irish writer and nationalist Roger O'Connor (1762-1834) prepared the Chronicles of Eri (1822), a book purporting to be a translation of ancient manuscripts detailing the early history of the Irish people. It was dedicated to his friend and supporter Sir Francis Burdett. The book was prefaced by a portrait of O'Connor holding a crown, the caption to which proclaimed that he was the "Head of his Race" and "Chief of the prostrated people of his nation," a position he claimed as the supposed lineal descendant of the 12th-century king Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair. According to O'Connor, he had attempted to write this book three times before, but had been frustrated by the machinations of his enemies, who stole his manuscripts. Another version of the book had been destroyed in the disastrous fire at Dangan in 1809. The book gives a history of the Gaels from supposed records written by "Eolus", who is said to have lived fifty years after Moses. It claims a continuous existence of the Gaelic people, originating among the ancient Phoenicians, migrating to Scythia, Spain and then Ireland. O'Connor interpreted Biblical stories and medieval Irish lore to support this narrative. William John Fitzpatrick in the Dictionary of National Biography stated that the book is "mainly, if not entirely, the fruit of O'Connor's imagination." Click here to view the Johns Hopkins University catalog record.