Women occupied new roles in the IRA of the Troubles era. To what extent did gender influence the public images and experiences of IRA volunteers? In the specific case of Dolours Price, did her femininity help her cause or hurt it?

Though the Troubles often appears to be a sectarian conflict between Catholics and Protestants in cities like Belfast and Derry, the book reveals the role the British State in England continually played in the Troubles. How do the Troubles fit into a larger context of British imperial conflict?

Is violence necessary in independence struggles? Is it justifiable? Use specific testimony from characters in the book as you weigh these questions.