This is the extraordinary story of the rise and fall of John Sadleir. Scion of leading Tipperary Catholic gentry families- the Sadleirs and Scullys- educated by the Jesuits at Clongowes, solicitor, politician, newspaper proprietor, defender of the Catholic faith above all spectaculor in votes, land, railways, banks, he was it seemed a man of all talents. Ambition outweighed ability, however and Sadlier's disgrace as a politician and failure as speculator and swindler brought misery and shame in equal instalments.