With an Introduction by Jamie O'Neill.
Into the household of the fractious Mr Collopy come two orphaned boys, Manus and Finbarr. While Mr Collopy is engaged in humanitarian work on behalf of women - to establish ladies' lavatories in Dublin - the boys grow up amidst the odour of good whiskey and bad cooking.
The elder brother Manus proves himself a master of business. From teaching people by post to walk the tightrope, he graduates to enlightening the world at his "London University Academy". As Mr Collopy travels to Rome, to enlist the help of the Pope, Finbarr watches and waits . . .
