The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories

by Trevor, William

• ISBN13: 9780192801937
• ISBN10: 0192801937
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-07
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

What began simply in Ireland as entertainment and communication through the spoken word soon grew into an extraordinary literary form unmatched in any other country. The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories triumphantly demonstrates the development of the short story in Ireland--from the early folk tales of the oral tradition (here translated from the Irish) to the writing of Oliver Goldsmith, Oscar Wilde, and James Joyce. William Trevor, himself a distinguished short story writer, brings a special sensibility and awareness to his role as editor as he presents stories by Maria Edgeworth, Elizabeth Bowen, Liam O'Flaherty and such modern rising stars as Edna O'Brian, Desmond Hogan, and Joyce Cary. This wide-ranging collection of forty-five stories will certainly serve to entertain and enrich our understanding of this unique literary genre.

Author Biography

William Trevor was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork in 1928 and spent his childhood in provincial Ireland. He attended a number of Irish schools and later Trinity College, Dublin. He is a member of the Irish Academy of Letters and was awarded an honorary CBE in 1977 in recognition of his services to literature. His most recent publication is 'The Hill Bachelors' (2000), and his other books include 'The Ballroom of Romance' (1972), 'Angels at the Ritz' (1975, Royal Society of Literature Award), 'Children of Dynmouth' (1976, Whitbread Award), 'Other People's Worlds' (1980), and 'The News From Ireland' (1986).

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
The Hour of Death	1	(1)
Fionn in Search o f his Youth	2	(3)
Cromwell and the Friar	5	(4)
The Girl and the Sailor	9	(2)
The Four-leafed Shamrock and the Cock	11	(1)
The Cow that ate the Piper	12	(2)
Conal and Donal and Taig	14	(5)
Adventures of a Strolling Player	19	(8)
Oliver Goldsmith
The Limerick Gloves	27	(25)
Maria Edgeworth
The Death of a Devotee	52	(21)
William Carleton
The Brown Man	73	(5)
Gerald Griffin
Green Tea	78	(31)
Sheridan Le Fanu
Albert Nobbs	109	(43)
George Moore
The Sphinx without a Secret	152	(5)
Oscar Wilde
Philippa's Fox-Hunt	157	(15)
E. E. Somerville
Martin Ross
The Priest	172	(10)
Daniel Corkery
The Weaver's Grave	182	(46)
Seumas O'kelly
The Dead	228	(39)
James Joyce
My Link Black Ass	267	(4)
Padraic O Conaire
The Triangle	271	(6)
James Stephens
Bush River	277	(10)
Joyce Cary
The Pedlar's Revenge	287	(13)
Liam O'Flaherty
The Fanatic	300	(11)
Liam O'Flaherty
Her Table Spread	311	(8)
Elizabeth Bowen
The Faithless Wife	319	(19)
Sean O'Faolain
The Sugawn Chair	338	(4)
Sean O'Faolain
Guests of the Nation	342	(12)
Frank O'Connor
The Majesty of the Law	354	(9)
Frank O'Connor
Pastorale	363	(12)
Patrick Boyle
The Hare-Lip	375	(7)
Mairtin O Cadhain
The Poteen Maker	382	(6)
Michael McLaverty
The Ring	388	(4)
Bryan MacMahon
Sarah	392	(9)
Mary Lavin
Desert Island	401	(11)
Terence De Vere White
The Pilgrims	412	(13)
Benedict Kiely
Weep for our Pride	425	(12)
James Plunkett
Loser	437	(8)
Val Mulkerns
The Bird I Fancied	445	(10)
Aidan Higgins
Death in Jerusalem	455	(16)
William Trevor
The Diviner	471	(11)
Brian Friel
An Occasion of Sin	482	(13)
John Montague
Irish Revel	495	(20)
Edna O'Brien
First Conjugation	515	(11)
Julia O'Faolain
The Beginning of an Idea	526	(15)
John McGahern
Life Drawing	541	(11)
Bernard Mac Laverty
The Airedale	552	(13)
Desmond Hogan
Acknowledgements	565	(4)
Index of Authors	569