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The Anchor Book of New Irish Writing
An Anchor Paperback Original
An intelligent, sophisticated cross-section of Irish short fiction, ideal for casual readers and classrooms alike, that showcases where Irish writers are now, as well as where they are headed.
The contemporary Irish short story, perhaps even more than the novel, provides vital critical clues and guideposts for anyone interested in twentieth-century Irish writing--the Irish, after all, have always been a nation of storytellers, and the current practioners of this ancient tradition are in the process of exploding and rediefining the form.
The Anchor Book of New Irish Writing features a group of writers whose influence is already strongly felt in Irish literature, and who deserve to be better known in American, among them Aidan Matthews and Anne Enright. The stories themselves are beautifully written, well-chosen by the editors, and presented in such a way as to guide readers through the fascinating dramatic, structural, and technical themes explored by contemporary Irish stories. The result is a rich sampling of these writers including the work of more familiar ones-from Elizabetth Bowen to Neil Jordan-a collection that promises to introduce the new classics of Irish literature to a wider audience.
List of
Elizabeth Bowen
John Banville
Desmond Hogan
Bernard McLaverty
Cherry Smyth
Clare Boylan
Rita Kelly
Maeve Binchy
Anne Devlin
Evelyn Conlon
Emma Donoghue
Aiden Matthews
Anne Enright
Patrick McCabe
Rohan Sheenan
Michael O'Loughlin
Eamonn Sweeney
Marcy Dorcey
Ellis Ní Dhuibhne
Joseph O'Connor
Colum McCann
Neil Jordan
An intelligent, sophisticated cross-section of Irish short fiction, ideal for casual readers and classrooms alike, that showcases where Irish writers are now, as well as where they are headed.
The contemporary Irish short story, perhaps even more than the novel, provides vital critical clues and guideposts for anyone interested in twentieth-century Irish writing--the Irish, after all, have always been a nation of storytellers, and the current practioners of this ancient tradition are in the process of exploding and rediefining the form.
The Anchor Book of New Irish Writing features a group of writers whose influence is already strongly felt in Irish literature, and who deserve to be better known in American, among them Aidan Matthews and Anne Enright. The stories themselves are beautifully written, well-chosen by the editors, and presented in such a way as to guide readers through the fascinating dramatic, structural, and technical themes explored by contemporary Irish stories. The result is a rich sampling of these writers including the work of more familiar ones-from Elizabetth Bowen to Neil Jordan-a collection that promises to introduce the new classics of Irish literature to a wider audience.
List of
Elizabeth Bowen
John Banville
Desmond Hogan
Bernard McLaverty
Cherry Smyth
Clare Boylan
Rita Kelly
Maeve Binchy
Anne Devlin
Evelyn Conlon
Emma Donoghue
Aiden Matthews
Anne Enright
Patrick McCabe
Rohan Sheenan
Michael O'Loughlin
Eamonn Sweeney
Marcy Dorcey
Ellis Ní Dhuibhne
Joseph O'Connor
Colum McCann
Neil Jordan
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 15, 2009
This is a really wonderful sampler of contemporary Irish writing. Some stories and writers I enjoyed more than others, as expected, but it was really great to carry this book around for a month, and just open to a random story and read.
I'd have liked to know what year each of the stories was written or published, as I've read other works by several of the authors, and I like to see the progression of their style.
Favorite story? I predicted it would be Joseph O'Connor's "The Long Way Home" (He's my favorite writer. Period.), but it turned out to be Colum McCann's "Cathal's Lake".
I'd have liked to know what year each of the stories was written or published, as I've read other works by several of the authors, and I like to see the progression of their style.
Favorite story? I predicted it would be Joseph O'Connor's "The Long Way Home" (He's my favorite writer. Period.), but it turned out to be Colum McCann's "Cathal's Lake".
March 17, 2021
I like short story anthologies because I can hear lots of different voices. Some well-known Irish authors are represented here and some I didn't know yet.
January 25, 2011
I have mixed feelings about this one. Some of the stories were really good and a couple were really bad. Most fell somewhere in between. I wouldn't base your decision to read it on my review. I have never compeltely understood the art of the shorty story. I can usually tell when it's a good one. However, if I don't like it, I'm always afraid I just missed something.
The story of the German Parachutist, which I liked, kind of sums up my expectations of a short story. Unfortunately, I think the author was being ironic. Oh well, I admit I'm out of my depth.
"...But this is not a novel. In a novel, one has more time. Anything might happen...But in a short story, rush is undesirable..."
The story of the German Parachutist, which I liked, kind of sums up my expectations of a short story. Unfortunately, I think the author was being ironic. Oh well, I admit I'm out of my depth.
"...But this is not a novel. In a novel, one has more time. Anything might happen...But in a short story, rush is undesirable..."
January 18, 2010
I had to leave for Ireland so couldn't bring a bunch of books, but I got halfway through it and loved it! It seemed every other story was noteworthy. I want to say it was Elizabeth Bowen who writes the first story, it reminded me of Virginia Woolf. Irish fiction is like a good B-sides album by a band you're fond of but not crazy about, you think, why would I go to this when I could listen to English literature? My ability to construct coherent analogies has gotten away from me a bit what with all the Guinness and broguery, but a fine read! Give Irish writers that aren't James Joyce a chance!
January 21, 2014
A number of excellent stories, a few bad ones, and a couple of really bizarro tales. That last category includes the last story, The Dream of a Beast, written by the filmaker, Neil Jordan. I'm still trying to figure out what that one is about.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews