Drawing on diverse cultural forms, and ranging across disciplinary boundaries, Nation States maps the contested cultural terrain of Irish nationalism from the Act of Union of 1800 to the present. In looking at Irish nationalism as a site of struggle, Mays examines both the myriad ways in which the nation fashions itself as the a priori ground of identity, and those processes through which nationalism engenders an ostensibly unique national identity corresponding to one and only one nation-state, the place where we always have been, and can only ever be, 'at home.'

"May's account of the general history of Irish nationalism is efficient, well written, and engaging. Anyone coming to the topic of Irish nationalism for the first time would certainly find Nation States illuminating and helpful. Mays's accounts of the nationalist projects of Pearse and De Valera are particularly useful, being rich, economical, and intelligent….Nation States is a brace and intelligent attempt to tackle a large and important topic in an engaging manner. Students, in particular, will learn much from the author's subtle and well-informed account of Irish culture and history." - Modern Philology, May 2011