Big Ian shows up as a none-too-bright personality who is usually the front man for more able and thoughtful brains (Desmond Boal in the 70's, Peter Robinson in the 90's). He is however clearly a charismatic personality who has always operated as an outsider from mainstream loyalist, orange and unionist bodies. He has been very successful in assembling his own independent power-base and it is clear he is loathed among UUP circles.

Far from the famous image of the ranting, not-an-inch mouthpiece Big Ian has actually pogo-sticked a fair bit around the Irish political landscape. The book outlines his astonishing dealings with loyalist paramilitaries in the late 70's (and makes a total mockey of his denunciations of 'terrorists'). More surprisingly it details his flirting with nationalism and the 'Dublin infidel' at the start of the 70's.

Whilst well dated now, I would thoughrouly recommend this hard to find book to anyone with an active interest in Irish politics.