Brian James Stone is Assistant Professor of English at Indiana State University, where he teaches rhetoric, writing, and medieval Irish literature.

''Overall the book presents an important and, in many respects, an exploratory discussion of rhetoric in medieval Ireland... an interesting and important contribution for all those interested in the intellectual links between Ireland, Britain, and the Continent." — Paul Russell, North American Journal of Celtic Studies, vol. 9, no. 1, 2025

• Acknowledgements Introduction: Early Irish Rhetoric Ireland and the Roman Frontiers Historiography and Medieval Rhetoric A Note on Periodization 1 Late Antique and Early Medieval Ireland and the Latin West Social and Ecclesiastical Organization in Early Ireland 2 Learning in Ireland in the Sixth through the Eighth Centuries Ireland and Anglo-Saxon England Ireland and Spain Letter Writing and the Paschal Controversy Columbanus Learning at Iona The Grammatical Handbook Tradition in Ireland 3 St Patrick and the Rhetoric of Epistolography The Historical Context of Patrick’s Mission to Ireland The Dating of Patrick’s Obit Rhetoric of Epistolography Patrick’s Learning The Purpose of Patrick’s Mission 4 A Rhetorical Analysis of Patrick’s Epistola ad Milites Coroticus Patrick and Paul 5 The Hisperica famina Rhetorical Analysis of Hisperica famina 6 Secular Learning and Native Traditions Filidecht and Secular and Church Relations Verbal Art and Early Irish Poetry – ‘The Cauldron of Poetry and Learning’ The Cauldron ‘The Cauldron of Poetry and Learning’ and The Trivium of the Liberal Arts Conclusion and Considerations for Further Study Bibliography Index