First published 1981
This anthology gathers thirty-eight short stories that span generations of Irish literature. The collection opens pathways into diverse Irish experiences and voices across different eras. Lady Gregory contributes her interpretation of an ancient love story, while William Trevor represents the contemporary end of this literary spectrum. The stories move between different moods and sensibilities, some filled with wit and sharp observation, others carrying the weight of sadness and loss. Each writer brings their own perspective to Irish life and character. The collection demonstrates how Irish authors have consistently excelled in the short story form, creating works that are both unpredictable and emotionally resonant. These stories capture the particular Irish gift for compressed narrative that can shift quickly between humor and melancholy, revealing the complexity of human experience within brief but powerful tales.
Genres: short-stories, anthologies, irish-literature, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, lyrical
Tropes: compressed-narrative, humor-and-melancholy
Setting: Ireland
Period: Different Eras
544 pages · Paperback · Penguin