The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories

Book Overview

Ireland has been called a nation of story-tellers. "Stories of one kind or another have a way of pressing themselves into Irish conversation, both as entertainment and as a form of communication," writes William Trevor. "For centuries they have been offered to strangers, almost as hospitality is: tall stories, simple stories, stories of extraordinary deeds, of mysteries and wonders, of gentleness, love, cruelty, and violence." Himself an accomplished short story writer, Trevor has gathered here a collection of stories that represent not only the best of Irish short story writing, but the best of the genre.
Spanning the entire history of the Irish short story, from folk-tales to modern writing, this is the most broad-ranging anthology available. Included are such masters as James Joyce and Elizabeth Bowen, who established Ireland at the forefront of the modern short story, as well as Frank O'Connor and Sean O'Faolain, the two most important writers since Joyce and Bowen. Trevor has selected stories by Bernard McLaverty and Desmond Hogan to represent the new generation of writers. But, as Elizabeth Bowen observed, the modern short story in Ireland is "a young art," and it is against the nation's deeply rooted oral tradition that it must be considered. Toward this end, The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories includes seven folk tales translated from the Irish by Sean O'Sullivan, and Seamus MacManus's re-telling of an Irish fairy tale.
William Trevor is one of today's most famous and respected Irish writers. (His work is represented here by the short story "Death in Jerusalem.") The 45 stories he has selected for this anthology, for which he has written a generous introduction, cover a 250-year period and works by 35 authors. Together they demonstrate the development of the short story in Ireland, a land where a flair for storytelling has "become a national characteristic."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192141805
• ISBN13: 9780192141804
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Length: 586 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

The Soul Of Ireland

The Short Stories presented in this fabulous collection range from short folktales from the the old oral tradition to modern stories of the 20th century. It is a marvelous survey of Irish writing with both the dark and lighter side of the Irish character well represented. I've had this book for years and return to it again and again. There are some real gems here.

Irish Stories.

You don't have to be Irish to enjoy this carefully gathered collection of Irish Short Stories. But no one can tell a tale as well as an Irishman or woman. This book is a must-have beside the bed to dip into and savour. Why is it that Irish literature is so pure and lucent? If you are looking for a gift for a special person, give them a copy of this treasure.

A Most Wonderful & Entertaining Bedtime Companion

This collection of short stories by Irish writers is a gem. Having loved William Trevor's stories for years, I bought this book because of his introduction. He draws the reader into these stories with the talent of an ageless storyteller. These stories can only skim the surface of the great body of Irish literature. But it is a wonderful start. Bravo.