Rossa's Recollections, 1838 to 1898: Childhood, boyhood, manhood; customs, habits and manners of the Irish people; Erinach and Sassenach; Catholic and protestant; Englishman and Irishman; English religion; Irish plunder; social life and prison life; the Fenian movement; Travels in Ireland, England, Scotland and America

"Rossa's Recollections, 1838 to 1898" by Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The memoir details the author’s life experiences, focusing on his childhood, family ties, and the social and political backdrop of Irish life during times of struggle and change, including the impact of English rule and the Fenian movement. The narrative offers strong insights into the customs, habits, and shared history of the Irish people through the lens of Rossa's personal journey. The opening of the memoir introduces the reader to Rossa’s early life in Ross Carbery, County Cork. He recalls poignant memories from childhood, including his baptism, and the scattering of his family due to emigration and political strife. As he reminisces about life with his grandparents and the warmth of familial bonds, he contrasts this with the emotional weight of separation and loss faced by many Irish families. Rossa provides vivid descriptions of his upbringing, the language and stories that shaped his identity, and the overarching influences of English oppression, setting the stage for the deeper political commentary that emerges in later chapters.