A History of Modern Irish Women's Literature

Offers the first comprehensive survey of literature by women in Ireland from the seventeenth century to the present day.

Heather Ingman (Edited by), Clíona Ó Gallchoir (Edited by)

9781107131101, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 July 2018

506 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.7 cm, 0.94 kg

'Multi-faceted and detailed, these essays provide a kaleidoscopic view of the rich diversity and history of modern Irish women's writing.' Claire Keogh, Irish Studies Review

This book offers the first comprehensive survey of writing by women in Ireland from the seventeenth century to the present day. It covers literature in all genres, including poetry, drama, and fiction, as well as life-writing and unpublished writing, and addresses work in both English and Irish. The chapters are authored by leading experts in their field, giving readers an introduction to cutting edge research on each period and topic. Survey chapters give an essential historical overview, and are complemented by a focus on selected topics such as the short story, and key figures whose relationship to the narrative of Irish literary history is analysed and reconsidered. Demonstrating the pioneering achievements of a huge number of many hitherto neglected writers, A History of Modern Irish Women's Literature makes a critical intervention in Irish literary history.

Introduction Heather Ingman and Clíona Ó Gallchoir
1. Writing before 1700 Marie-Louise Coolahan
2. Eighteenth-century writing Clíona Ó Gallchoir
3. Writing under the Union, 1800–45 James Kelly
4. Poetry, 1845–90 Matthew Campbell
5. Fiction, 1845–1900 James H. Murphy
6. New woman writers Tina O'Toole
7. Prose, drama and poetry, 1891–1920 Paige Reynolds
8. Writing for children Valerie Coghlan
9. Poetry, 1920–1970 Lucy Collins
10. Fiction, 1920–60 Gerardine Meaney
11. Elizabeth Bowen Patricia Coughlan
12. Kate O'Brien Eibhear Walshe
13. Edna O'Brien Sinéad Mooney
14. Fiction, 1960–95 Anne Fogarty
15. The short story Heather Ingman
16. Poetry, 1970-present Patricia Boyle Haberstroh
17. Women's traditions in theatre, 1920–2015 Cathy Leeney
18. Writing in Irish, 1900–2013 Ríona Nic Congáil and Máirín Nic Eoin
19. Fiction from Northern Ireland, 1921–2015 Caroline Magennis
20. Life writing and personal testimony in the twentieth century Anne Mulhall
21. Twentieth-century diasporic and transnational writing Ellen McWilliams
22. Celtic tiger fiction Susan Cahill.

Subject Areas: Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literature: history & criticism [DS]