THE STATEMENTS WERE TAPE RECORDED DURING 1972, 1973, AND 1974 BY AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR FROM AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. INTERVIEWS WERE ARRANGED BY TELEPHONE, BY REFERRALS, OR BY CHANCE ENCOUNTERS. INTERSPERSED WITH THE ORAL STATEMENTS ARE THE AUTHOR'S NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS OF THE EVENTS DISCUSSED. PERIODS AND EVENTS DESCRIBED INCLUDE (1) THE COMPARATIVELY CALM YEARS FROM 1943 TO 1963; (2) THE REFORMS ADOPTED BY PRIME MINISTER O'NEILL FROM 1963 TO 1968 WHICH CAUSED DIVISIONS AMONG THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY; (3) THE 1968 LONDONDERRY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN POLICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS MARCHERS THE EVENT WHICH INSTIGATED RIOTS AND ESCALATING PROTEST; (4) THE 1969 ELECTIONS, RIOTING, AND BRITISH ARMY PRESENCE; (5) THE POLICY OF INTERNMENT WITHOUT TRIAL IMPOSED IN 1971 BY PRIME MINISTER FAULKNER; (6) BOMBINGS AND OTHER ACTIONS OF THE PROVISIONAL IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY; AND (7) THE DILEMMAS OF BOTH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT MODERATES. THE SPEAKERS INCLUDE POLITICIANS, PRIESTS, MINISTERS, AND PEOPLE FROM MANY OCCUPATIONS AND WITH MANY VIEWPOINTS. PHOTOGRAPHS, A MAP, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)