Irish Women Writers: An A-to-Z Guide

Alexander G. Gonzalez

Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006 - Literary Criticism - 348 pages

Irish women writers have a large following, and their works are attracting large amounts of scholarly and critical attention. Through roughly 75 alphabetically arranged entries written by more than 35 expert contributors, this reference overviews the lives and works of Irish women writers active in a range of genres and periods. Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes, a survey of the writer's critical reception, and a list of works by and about the author. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.

Ireland has an especially lively literary tradition, and works by Irish writers have long been recognized as interesting and influential. While male writers have received the bulk of the critical attention given to Irish literature, contemporary women writers are among the most widely read Irish authors. This reference overviews the lives and works of Irish women writers active in a range of periods and genres.

Included are roughly 75 alphabetically arranged entries written by more than 35 expert contributors. Among the writers discussed are:

; Elizabeth Bowen

; Mary Dorcey

; Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory

; Anne Hartigan

; Norah Hoult

; Paula Meehan

; Iris Murdoch

; Edna O'Brien

; Katharine Tynan

; Sheila Wingfield

; And many more.

Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes, a review of the writer's critical reception, and a list of works by and about the writer. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.

Contents

• Linda Anderson 1949: 9
• Ivy Bannister 1951: 12
• Mary Beckett 1926: 14
• Sara Berkeley 1967: 17
• Maeve Binchy 1940: 20
• Caroline Blackwood 19311996: 23
• Eavan Boland 1944: 26
• Angela Bourke 1952: 35
• Elizabeth Bowen 18991973: 39
• Clare Boylan 1948: 44
• Elizabeth Brennan 1907: 48
• Frances Browne 18161879: 51
• Mary Rose Callaghan 1944: 54
• Moya Cannon 1956: 57
• Marina Carr 1964: 61
• Juanita Casey 1925: 67
• Mary Catherine Gunning Maguire Colum 18841957: 69
• Julia M Crottie 18531930?: 72
• Geraldine Cummins 18901969: 75
• Ita Daly 1945: 79
• Suzanne Day 18901964: 82
• Teresa Deevy 18941963: 84
• Anne Devlin 1951: 88
• Eilis Dillon 19201994: 94
• Emma Donoghue 1969: 98
• Mary Dorcey 1950: 102
• Ellen Mary Patrick Downing 18281869: 106
• Maria Edgeworth 17671849: 109
• Ruth Dudley Edwards 1944: 117
• Anne Enright 1962: 120
• Mary E Frances Mary Blundell 18591930: 124
• Miriam Gallagher 1940: 127
• Sarah Grand 18541943: 131
• Lady Gregory née Isabella Augusta Persse 18521932: 134
• Anne Le Marquand Hartigan 1937: 140
• Rita Ann Higgins 1955: 145
• Norah Hoult 18981984: 151
• Biddy Jenkinson 1949: 154
• Jennifer Johnston 1930: 158
• Marie Jones 1955: 164
• Molly Keane 19041996: 168
• Eva Kelly 18301910: 172
• Rita Kelly 1953: 175
• Emily Lawless 18451913: 185
• Joan Lingard 1932: 190
• Deirdre Madden 1960: 193
• Joy Martin 1937: 197
• Medbh McGuckian 1950: 200
• Janet McNeill 1907: 208
• Paula Meehan 1955: 211
• Máire Mhac an tSaoi 1922: 216
• Alice Milligan 18661953: 219
• Susan L Mitchell 18661926: 224
• Lady Morgan 1776?1859: 228
• Val Mulkerns 1925: 232
• Iris Murdoch 19191999: 236
• Eilean Ni Chuilleanain 1942: 241
• Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill 1952: 248
• Éilís ní Dhuibhne 1954: 256
• Áine Ní Ghlinn 1955: 262
• Máiréad Ní Ghráda 18961971: 265
• Edna OBrien 1930: 268
• Kate OBrien 18971974: 276
• Mary ODonnell 1954: 280
• Julia OFaolain 1932: 283
• Nuala OFaolain 1940: 286
• Mary OMalley 1954: 290
• Christina Reid 1942: 294
• Somerville and Ross EOE Somerville 18581949 and Violet Martin 18621915: 298
• Eithne Strong 19231999: 303
• Mary Tighe née Blachford 17721810: 308
• Katharine Tynan 18611931: 314
• Lady Wilde 18211896: 319
• Sheila Wingfield 19061992: 323
• Selected Bibliography: 327
• Index: 333
• About the Editor and Contributors: 341

About the author

Alexander G. Gonzalez is Professor of English at the State University of New York College at Cortland. His many books include Assessing the Achievement of J.M. Synge (1996), Modern Irish Writers: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook (1997), and Contemporary Irish Women Poets: Some Male Perspectives (1999), all available from Greenwood Press.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Irish Women Writers: An A-to-Z Guide
• Editor: Alexander G. Gonzalez
• Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006
• ISBN: 0313328838, 9780313328831
• Length: 348 pages
• Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Literary Criticism / General; Literary Criticism / Reference