Why does Harmon begin each chapter with a Yeats poem and end with a section from Thomas Smith’s journal?

Annie Gallagher is torn between preserving history and changing it. In the novel, can history be changed, or is it a fixed series of events? Explain your reasoning.

What role do important Irish historical figures play in this novel? Discuss the presence of Michael Collins, Countess Markievicz, and Arthur Griffith.