The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction

This extraordinary volume presents the entire canon of Irish fiction in English from Jonathan Swift, born in 1667, to Emma Donoghue, born in 1969. In between are selections from almost 100 renowned writers including Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Iris Murdoch, William Trevor, and Roddy Doyle. Colm Tóibín-one of Ireland's most accomplished writers-has carefully chosen the selections and gives fascinating background information in a provocative introduction. His commentary combines with the inspired selections from Ireland's greatest writers to provide an authoritative and enlightening exploration of Irish fiction.

"Literary brilliance is one of the most enduring and cherished of Irish stereotypes — as hokey and inescapable a part of the national landscape as pubs and bad weather — but Toibin manages to keep the beer from turning green in his judicious and very comprehensive selection." Kirkus Reviews

"A treasure trove of Irish fiction." Chicago Tribune

"As a taster of the 'poor realities and grand dreams' of nearly three centuries of Irish fiction, it could hardly be bettered." The Times (London)

"An anthology intended to define a national literature is an invitation to a brawl. When the nation is Ireland, which seems to regard writers as its chief export, a war is not out of the question. Fortunately, Toibin is a good man for the job." San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

Castle Rackrent / Maria Edgeworth — Wildgoose Lodge / William Carleton — The hungry death / Rosa Mulholland — Home sickness / George Moore — Nightfall / Daniel Corkery — A glass of beer / James Stephens — The dead / James Joyce — The hawk / Liam O'Flaherty — Her table spread / Elizabeth Bowen — A dead cert / Sean O'Faolain — On the empty shore / Seosamh Mac Grianna — Guests of the nation / Frank O'Connor — First love / Samuel Beckett — Company / Samuel Beckett — Floodtide / Mairtin O Cadhain — Exile's return / Bryan MacMahon — The martyr's crown / Flann O'Brien — Happiness / Mary Lavin — The morning after the big fire / Maeve Brennan — Homes on the mountain / Benedict Kiely — The eagles and the trumpets / James Plunkett — Memory and desire / Val Mulkerns — Kathleen's field / William Trevor — The hairdresser / Leland Bardwell — Foundry House / Brian Friel — Music at Annahullion / Eugene McCabe — A Belfast woman / Mary Beckett — Left of the door / Tom Mac Intyre — Will You please go now / Julia O'Faolain — The country funeral / John McGahern — Life drawing / Bernard Mac Laverty — Such good friends / Ita Daly — Topping / Shane Connaughton — Night in Tunisia / Neil Jordan — Memories of swinging London — Desmond Hogan — A country dance / Mary Dorcey — Nazi Christmas / Hugo Hamilton — In the dark / Aidan Mathews — The cantilever principle / Mary Morrissy — (She owns) every thing / Anne Enright — Slade / Frank Ronan — Breakfast for Enrique / Colum McCann — Going back / Emma Donoghue.