A new and welcome contribution to Irish-Spanish historical studies has come with the publication of Ireland and Spain in the reign of Philip II. As the title reveals, this book treats of the close historical ties that have existed between both countries, which were forged and reached their zenith in the tumultuous, action-packed times of 16th and early 17th century Europe. Originally written in Spanish by Enrique Garcí a Herná n and published under the title Irlanda y el Rey Prudente (2 vols, Madrid, 2000 and 2003), this revised synopsised and updated work, impeccably translated by Liam Liddy, offers a lavish portrait of the political, military and religious relations between both countries which, in their desire to rid the world of their common enemy, England, went to untold lengths to achieve this objective and, in the process, came within a whisker of changing the course of history. Enrique Garciá Herná n is a researcher in the Instituto de Historia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientí ficas, Madrid.