Volume IV: The Irish Book in English 1800-1891 details the story of the book in Ireland during the nineteenth century, when Ireland was integrated into the United Kingdom. The chapters in this volume explore book production and distribution and the differing of ways in which publishing existed in Dublin, Belfast, and the provinces.

This volume describes in detail more than 3900 newspapers and periodicals in all fields: art, literature, theatre, science, music, law, agriculture, labour, politics, trade, home and church. Its indexes list all periodicals published in each Irish city and town, and gives readers access to such diverse subjects as the slave trade, town directories, gardening, geology, fiction, folklore, antiquities, public health. Locations are provided for most titles, as well as a description of the political and religious orientation, indexing, personnel, issuing bodies, frequency and publishing history. An essential reference work for every Irish Studies program and reference library. "A project of enormous importance. ... A wealth of information ... thoroughly indexed ... (with) a graceful h umane appearance."-Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America. ".. .the place where nineteenth century Irish research begins."--James Harner, in the MLA's Research Sources in English. "It is above all the indexes which make an already impressively detailed and exhaustive piece of research into a fundamental 'must' for 19th century historians."--F. J. G. Robinson, Director, The 19th Century Short Title Catalogue. "Remarkable comprehensiveness and skillful cross-indexing. ... The Directory will prove indispensible."--Richard Morton, English Studies in Canada. "The well-nigh definitive guide to the raw materials for a history of Irish journalism. ... Its acquisition is unavoidable."--W. G. Wheeler, Queen's University, Belfast