Among other goals of this study, Rhodes (film studies, Queen's U. Belfast) severely interrogates the notion of a distinct Irish-American cinema genre from 1890s to 1915, the conventional end of "early cinema." But he also explores the portrayal of Irish people and culture in US films during the period, especially looking for evidence of the place of Irish-Americans in the American consciousness. He discusses theater and events, lantern slides, non-fiction, comedy, melodrama, film characters, and audiences. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)