In just over 200 pages, this modest compilation covers a great deal of ground and includes a wide variety of material. The numerous interviews - some of them very short, but generally lively - are mainly by journalists, and several are by people who at various times have written much for this paper: Eavan Boland, Fintan O'Toole, Ray Comiskey, Elgy Gillespie, Paddy Agnew. Not all are substantial, yet all shed at least some light on Friel's highly private, rather elusive, yet sometimes outspoken personality. There are excerpts from a "sporadic diary" kept by the playwright - mostly cursory jottings and notes for possible subjects - and various statements, prefaces and other occasional pieces by him, including a reply to a critic who had been unfriendly towards Translations. Christopher Murray contributes a level-headed, jargonfree introduction and adds a useful bibliography at the end of the volume.