The General is the story of Martin Cahill - a working-class Dubliner who was the mastermind behind a series of daring robberies that stunned Ireland in the 1980s. Despite being the country's most wanted man, he eluded capture - with great cheek - until he finally fell foul of the IRA. John Boorman's screenplay delves deep into the heart of Cahill and reveals a man who possessed a relish for defying the might of society, a rage at perceived injustice, a ferocius cunning, a sense of perpetual celebration, and a dark brutality - all the characteristics of a Celtic chieftain. This volume also contains an essay by John Boorman on the dramatic struggles involved in bringing Martin Cahill's life and times to the screen.