Famous Irish Trials. Dublin: Maunsel & Co., 1918. First Edition. Pp xi, 212. Publisher’s brown cloth boards, lettered in black. Cloth lightly dulled, contents in fine bright condition.

A collection of notable Irish legal cases written by a figure who was himself a central participant in Ireland’s political and legal life.

Matthias McDonnell Bodkin (1850-1933) was an Irish nationalist politician and MP and Anti-Parnellite representative for North Roscommon. A prominent journalist he was called to the Irish Bar in 1877. The author of many popular books, including ‘Famous Irish Trials’ (1918).

Bodkin was a significant figure in early detective fiction, best known for creating Paul Beck, one of the first “scientific” detectives in literature (predating Sherlock Holmes in some respects), and Dora Myrl, a female detective protagonist. His legal background lent authenticity to his courtroom and crime narratives.