This is a collection of nine studies, first gathered at a conference held at the National University of Ireland. Like many article collections, the topics vary widely, covering missions in diverse parts of the world, from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. Even so, the editors have done a commendable job in keeping the focus on a common theme: that of the ‘frontier’. The book examines the tension between Western Europe and the remote mission fields, between the idealistic statements of the church leadership in Rome (or Paris) and the gritty lives of the missionaries. Thus, the first set of studies shows how priests’ abstract notions of martyrdom changed when faced with situations where they really could, and sometimes did, die for their faith. The second set focuses on how the spiritual ideals of evangelisation often merged with temporal concerns, such as defending the territorial claims of one's king or priestly order. Indeed, the notion of the ‘frontier’ is itself an interesting contribution, a theoretical tool to help explain why missionary practice often diverged so much from official church teaching. It seems to draw on Immanuel Wallerstein's World System concept, with its references to globalisation and the relationship between the centre and the periphery. However, ‘frontier theory’ is only sketched in the introduction, and would have benefitted from more development.

This book is particularly important because it highlights topics and regions that have often been neglected in previous scholarship. For example, there is Seán Alexander Smith's intense chapter on the early Lazarist mission to Madagascar: its priests, decimated by hunger, disease and colonial conflict, cried out for help to a rather perplexed Vincent de Paul. Also noteworthy is Andrew Redden's study on the war-torn Jesuit mission to Chile, and its efforts to draw the line between selfless bravery and wise preservation of human resources. There are also fascinating chapters on missions to the Balkans and to the Cyclades. All in all, this book contains much interesting work which will hopefully continue to be pursued in future publications.