Modern Irish Writers

A Bio-Critical Sourcebook

Alexander G. Gonzalez

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 1997
• Print ISBN:
  9780313295577
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781567507737
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: English Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

While the Irish Literary Revival began around 1885 and ended somewhere between 1925 and 1940, the Irish Renaissance has continued to the present day and shows no sign of abating. The period has produced some of the most important and influential figures in Irish literature, some of whom are counted among the world's greatest authors. The Revival saw a reestablishment of Ireland's literary connections with its Celtic heritage, and writers such as William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory drew heavily on the myths and legends of the past. James Joyce boldly reshaped the novel and wrote short fiction of enduring value. Contemporary Irish writers continue to be leading figures and include such authors as Brian Frigl, Seamus Heaney, and Eavan Boland.

Included in this reference book are alphabetically arranged entries for more than 70 modern Irish writers, including Samuel Beckett, William Trevor, Patrick Kavanagh, Medbh McGuckian, Sean O'Casey, J. M. Synge, and Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill. Entries are written by expert contributors and reflect a broad range of perspectives. Each entry contains a brief biography that summarizes the author's career, a discussion of major works and themes, an overview of the author's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary works. An introductory essay reviews the large and growing body of scholarship on modern Irish literature, while an extensive bibliography concludes the volume.

Table of contents

• Preface
• A Note on Using This Book
• Introduction
• Modern Irish Writers
• AE (George William Russell) (1867–1935) Noelle Bowles
• Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) Phyllis Carey
• Brendan Behan (1923–1964) James McNamara
• Eavan Boland (1944–) Patricia J. Ferreira
• Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Barbara A. Suess
• Paul Vincent Carroll (1900–1968) John D. Conway
• Ciaran Carson (1948–) Maryann Donahue
• Austin Clarke (1896–1974) Shawn Holliday
• Mary M. Colum (1884–1957) Taura S. Napier
• Padraic Colum (1881–1972) Sanford Sternlicht
• Daniel Corkery (1878–1964) Laurie Champion
• Denis Devlin (1908–1959) Jack Morgan
• Paul Durcan (1944–) Bernard McKenna
• Desmond Egan (1936–) Jim McWilliams
• John Eglinton (1868–1961) Rebecca Creasy Simcoe
• Darrell Figgis (1882–1925) Maryanne Felter
• Brian Friel (1929–) Mary Fitzgerald-Hoyt
• Oliver St. John Gogarty (1878–1957) John D. Conway
• Lady Augusta Gregory (1852–1932) Noelle Bowles
• Seamus Heaney (1939–) Rand Brandes
• F. R. Higgins (1896–1941) Regina M. Buccola
• Rita Ann Higgins (1956–) Jane Biondi
• Denis Johnston (1901–1984) John O’Brien
• Jennifer Johnston (1930–) Barbara E. McLaughlin
• James Joyce (1882–1941) Paula Gillespie
• Patrick Kavanagh (1904–1967) Shawn Holliday
• John B. Keane (1928–) Patricia Kane O’Connor
• Molly Keane (1904–) Ann Owens Weekes
• Benedict Kiely (1919–) Andrew J. Haggerty
• Thomas Kinsella (1928–) Shawn Holliday
• Mary Lavin (1912–1996) Mary E. Donnelly
• Michael Longley (1939–) Alan I. Rea, Jr.
• John McGahern (1934–) Margaret Lasch Mahoney
• Medbh McGuckian (1950–) Mary O’Connor
• Michael McLaverty (1907–1992) Bernard McKenna
• Bryan MacMahon (1909–) Madeleine Marchaterre
• Brinsley MacNamara (1890–1963) Maureen McLaughlin
• Louis MacNeice (1907–1963) Bernard McKenna
• Derek Mahon (1941–) Kevin Murphy
• Edward Martyn (1859–1923) Rebecca Creasy Simcoe
• Paula Meehan (1955–) Lauren Onkey
• Máire Mhac an tSaoi (1922–) Cóilín D. Owens
• Susan L. Mitchell (1866–1926) Laurie Champion
• John Montague (1929–) Ann Marie Adams
• Brian Moore (1921–) Robert Sullivan
• George Moore (1852–1933) Elizabeth Grubgeld
• Paul Muldoon (1951–) Michael F. Hart
• Richard Murphy (1927–) Kellie Donovan Wixson
• Thomas Murphy (1935–) Claire Gleitman
• T. C. Murray (1873–1959) Albert J. DeGiacomo
• Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin (1942–) Jane Biondi
• Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (1952–) Deborah H. McWilliams
• Edna O’Brien (1930–) Allison T. Hild
• Flann O’Brien (1911–1966) Andrew J. Shipe
• Kate O’Brien (1897–1974) Patricia J. Ferreira
• Sean O’Casey (1880–1964) Claire Gleitman
• Pádraig Ó Conaire (1883–1928) Cóilín D. Owens
• Frank O’Connor (Michael O’Donovan) (1903–1966) Michael Steinman
• Tomás Ó Crohan (1856–1937) Cóilín D. Owens
• Peadar O’Donnell (1893–1986) Bernard McKenna
• Julia O’Faolain (1932–) Ann Owens Weekes
• Sean O’Faolain (1900–1991) Richard Bonaccorso
• Liam O’Flaherty (1896–1984) James M. Cahalan
• Seumas O’Kelly ([c. 1875–1878]–1918) John D. Conway
• James Plunkett (1920–) James M. Cahalan
• Lennox Robinson (1886–1958) Thomas Akstens
• W. R. Rodgers (1909–1969) Bernard McKenna
• Peig Sayers (1873–1958) Cóilín D. Owens
• James Simmons (1933–) Bernard McKenna
• Somerville and Ross (E. OE. Somerville, 1858–1949, and Violet Martin, 1862–1915) Ann Owens Weekes
• James Stephens (1882–1950) Barton R. Friedman
• Eithne Strong (1923–) Deborah H. McWilliams
• Francis Stuart (1902–) Nicole Pepinster Greene
• J. M. Synge (1871–1909) Edward A. Kopper, Jr.
• William Trevor (1928–) Mary Fitzgerald-Hoyt
• Katharine Tynan (c. 1858–1931) Anne Ulry Colman
• William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Bernard McKenna
• Bibliographies
• Index
• About the Editor and Contributors