Favorite Irish Literature

[aeroport]

The recent posts on the Brit vs. American lit thread suggested this to me. However, please note: I don't care if you think Irish literature is, for some reason, superior or inferior to all the other literatures of the world - including British! The idea is to discuss what you like about the work of Irish authors. And yes, this includes Wilde, Shaw, O'Kasey, Synge - exiles do count.

[Niamh]

I'm a big fan of J.M.Synge. Love his plays because of the humour and the satirical way he portrays reality. He was more in tune with what was going on in the irish countryside than his literary rivival counter parts whos main objective was to feed propaganda for the nationalist cultural revival. I think he was a bit a head of his time when his plays were performed for irish audiences. But in saying that its taken a long time for his plays to be truely appriciated.

cheers Jamesian:)

[Virgil]

Before I state who my favorite Irish writer is, let me just say how amazed I am that a small island such as Ireland with a population that has historically ranged from only 3 to 5 million (less than a tenth of say England's) has produced so much fine literature. Jamesian doesn't even mention the poets. And when one considers all the other writers of Irish descent who are from other countries now (especially writers from my country) the list is incredibly long. I don't know why, but that little island is just rich with great literature. I say cheers to you people of Ireland for giving me so much reading enjoyment. :thumbs_up

And my favorite Irish writer is William Butler Yeats. :)

[UltimaHybrid]

i read Finnegans Wake by James Joyce and my mom couldn't read it but i could because it was easy too see the combined words and junctions and so and so forth

[aeroport]

I'm a big fan of J.M.Synge. Love his plays because of the humour and the satirical way he portrays reality. He was more in tune with what was going on in the irish countryside than his literary rivival counter parts whos main objective was to feed propaganda for the nationalist cultural revival. I think he was a bit a head of his time when his plays were performed for irish audiences.

Based on The Playboy of the Western World (in comparison to, say, the very early Yeats), I could not agree more.


i read Finnegans Wake by James Joyce and my mom couldn't read it but i could because it was easy too see the combined words and junctions and so and so forth

You have my envy, UltimaHybrid...

[aeroport]

For my part, I just read four excerpts from Ulysses over the last couple weeks for class (Telemachus/Stephen, Bloom's first chapter, Aeolus/newspaper office, Cyclops/"citizen" scene, and Penelope/Molly), and am quite impressed. I look forward to doing it all in the summer.

For the present, our class is just beginning Samuel Beckett. I read his first story "Assumption" today, and I must say I am quite impressed with it; though, from the appearance of things (looking at "Text" and others), it looks like that's about his easiest piece to read... :eek2:

[Niamh]

Before I state who my favorite Irish writer is, let me just say how amazed I am that a small island such as Ireland with a population that has historically ranged from only 3 to 5 million (less than a tenth of say England's) has produced so much fine literature. Jamesian doesn't even mention the poets. And when one considers all the other writers of Irish descent who are from other countries now (especially writers from my country) the list is incredibly long. I don't know why, but that little island is just rich with great literature. I say cheers to you people of Ireland for giving me so much reading enjoyment. :thumbs_up

And my favorite Irish writer is William Butler Yeats. :)

:D We're not called (historically) the Isle of Saints and Scholars for nothing! Writing is one thing we are good at, Unlike other things (football for example).

I also love yeats. He well deservered his noble prize for lit. I love his poem In Memory of captain John Gregory. He immortalises his lost companions well and portrays his own anguish at losing them. You can tell he misses them.

(btw- I think our population if now around the 4million mark because of the influx of eastern europeans in to the country.:nod: )

[Niamh]

For my part, I just read four excerpts from Ulysses over the last couple weeks for class (Telemachus/Stephen, Bloom's first chapter, Aeolus/newspaper office, Cyclops/"citizen" scene, and Penelope/Molly), and am quite impressed. I look forward to doing it all in the summer.

For the present, our class is just beginning Samuel Beckett. I read his first story "Assumption" today, and I must say I am quite impressed with it; though, from the appearance of things (looking at "Text" and others), it looks like that's about his easiest piece to read... :eek2:

Wait till you get to Waiting for Godot! Its an odd work of genius!

[byquist]

O'Casey is bold and brash, plus humor. He really relishes in language and the spoken voice. Favorite: the scene between Capt'n Boyle and Joxer before Juno comes in and they jump out on the fire escape.

[ennison]

Austin Clarke and (to a lesser extent) Richard Murphy - poets. But the novelists and short story writers too

[Niamh]

Bram stoker would be my favourite horror writer(obviously as there isnt really anyone to challenge him.) Another great writer to add to our greats list!

[Adudaewen]

Amen Niamh. I will always love Bram Stoker, he's by far my favorite Irish author. :)

[Stieg]

Amen Niamh. I will always love Bram Stoker, he's by far my favorite Irish author. :)

Ditto, and another great Irish horror writer is Sheridan Le Fanu. Both exceptional.

[lavendar1]

Don't know if anyone's mentioned William Trevor yet. To me, he's a master of the short story.

[Banville]

I agree re William Trevor. My favourite Irish writer, though, is Flann O'Brien.

[Schokokeks]

Now that I've actually been to Ireland, it doesn't surprise me a bit that this country fathered so many excellent novelists, playwrights and poets. It's something in the air there, I reckon :nod: :D.

So far, my favourite Irish writer is Bernie Shaw, but I also enjoyed Dracula (who didn't ;) ) and The Informer by Liam O'Flaherty.
Furthermore, I bought myself a collection of modern Irish poems in Dublin and I'm looking forward to reading through that one (need to get started on poetry, eh, Virgil ? ;) ).

[McGrain]

i read Finnegans Wake by James Joyce and my mom couldn't read it but i could because it was easy too see the combined words and junctions and so and so forth


That is quality my friend. That book is excluded from some university courses on Joyce it's seen as so difficult. I've managed the first forty pages now, and i'm actually blushing with pride. So fair play to you.

Joyce is my favourite Irish author. I love Dubliners I love Ulysses. That is a monster of a book. I've read it twice and I have to say, for me, it is broader in ambition and more successfully what it is (i apologise for the clumsiness of this statement - i can't think how else to put it) than anything else i've ever read.

The hardback is also a reasonably handy weapon.

I want to give Wilde a wee mention too. I generally regard the lighter side of literature (by which i mean comedy, decedance etc.) as being of less value than the more serious stuff by virtue of the fact that being at the pub, with the mrs., with friends, playing sport, chess whatever is better for that kind of vibe than reading, but nothing matches your misery like Hamlet or Crime and Punishment. However, Wilde is an exception for me. Also, unlike many playwrites, he's so good to read - i don't feel like i'm missing out when i read as opposed to watch an Oscar Wilde play, he's just...so...cheeky

[Mrs. Dalloway]

I haven't seen this post! Thanks Jamesian. I think some Irish writers has something that other writers don't have. I enjoy Heaney and Yeat's poems. And I also like Shaw and Wilde.
Does anyone know Irish women writers? I have read Elisabeth Bowen but I don't know anyone else. ;)

[Niamh]

I haven't seen this post! Thanks Jamesian. I think some Irish writers has something that other writers don't have. I enjoy Heaney and Yeat's poems. And I also like Shaw and Wilde.
Does anyone know Irish women writers? I have read Elisabeth Bowen but I don't know anyone else. ;)

why not try Edna O'Brian, Lady Gregory, Mia Gallagher or If you like that Chick Lit stuff there are plenty of those writers. Cecilia Ahern, Sheila O'Fanagan, Meave Binchy( who wrote circle of friends), \deirdre Purcell, to name a few.

[Mrs. Dalloway]

why not try Edna O'Brian, Lady Gregory, Mia Gallagher or If you like that Chick Lit stuff there are plenty of those writers. Cecilia Ahern, Sheila O'Fanagan, Meave Binchy( who wrote circle of friends), \deirdre Purcell, to name a few.

Thanks!! :D ;)

[EAP]

Hmm.

Circle of Friends - Maeve Binchy (the rest of her stuff is crap)
Oscar Wilde
Roddy Doyle
Paul Kearney