He was a founder-member there of the Irish Literary Society and also joined the London Gaelic League.
[3] He became political secretary to Patrick McMahon, a role which introduced him to senior British and Irish politicians.
He was loyal to, but not uncritical of, Charles Stuart Parnell, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party at Westminster.
[4] Parnell wished to make him an MP, but he declined, as he preferred to remain focused on writing.
[2] O'Brien was a political insider and a committed Home Ruler and the biography throws light on the activities of Home Rule MPs and their links to the Fenian Movement.