The Irish Novel 1960-2010 - Hardcover

"Also author of "Out of Our Minds" (1994), "Brian Friel: A reference Guide, 1962-1992" (CH, Sep'95, 33-1995), "The Village of Longing" (1987), and other work, O'Brien (emer., Georgetown Univ.) offers a unique collection of short essays on 51 Irish novels, one for each year the book covers. For each novel, he provides a short precis that is part summary and part analysis. In addition, he choses several sources for each novel as supplementary reading and a citation for a different novel published during the featured year. For example, 1976 features Caroline Blackwood's "The Stepdaughter", and cites John Banville's "Doctor Copernicus" as another novel published in 1976. In the introduction, the author writes that he seeks to "reflect upon the idea of change as it pertains to the contemporary Irish novel." Given the breadth of his coverage, it would be impossible for him to include a detailed analysis of each text; for this reason, the supplementary reading sections are very useful. O'Brien's book serves as a useful survey for students beginning in a study of Irish literature. Summing Up: Recommended."

The increased visibility of the Irish novel in recent years has been one of the outstanding developments in contemporary Irish literature. This development has coincided with a period of significant change in Ireland as a whole. The Irish Novel 1960-2010 is the first book to study how the novel has been involved in discussing the seeds of change and the response to change as it evolved. The result is a wide-ranging survey, accessible and rewarding for both the student and the general public. Original and insightful it is written with a distinctive blend of sympathy and engagement. The Irish Novel 1960-2010 is an invaluable guide to an important cultural phenomenon.