Great Irish Short Stories

by Evan Bates (editor)

This collection of thirteen captivating tales by Irish authors illustrates both traditional and modern approaches to the Celtic art of storytelling. Spanning two centuries, it features stories by Maria Edgeworth and William Carleton from the beginning of Irish prose fiction in English; retellings of traditional tales by Lady Gregory and Standish O'Grady from the great age of the Irish Literary Revival; and contributions from many of the 20th century's most significant writers, including William Butler Yeats, James Stephens, James Joyce, Seumas O'Kelly, and Liam O'Flaherty.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2005

Reviews

[Shuggy L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Capture rural family life in Ireland.

Looking for some more up-to-date stories. Read some of William Trevor's short stories recently. I have a copy of Great Irish Short Stories edited by Vivian Mercier and I will try some of those stories too. Under the Net by Iris Murdock was about an Irish man in London.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a great Irish literature class in college and I still love reading short stories and poetry from Irish writers. This was a great collection of diverse and interesting pieces, I feel like it really gave a healthy introduction to Irish short stories.

[Gaianee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorites were The Tables of the Law, The Donagh, The Dead, Green tea, and most of all, The Weaver's Grave. The Weaver's Grave is probably my favorite short story I've read for a very long time, It's hilarious, beautifully written, heartwarming, and a little bit meta.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Bates has created a collection of Irish stories that span most of the literary history of the island, providing a well-rounded view of its extensive literary heritage and, when taken together in context, creating a kind of narrative of the self-image of Irish writers and developing national consciousness.

[Judine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have appreciated this book more if I wasn't hoping to find a forensics piece in it. Some of the stories had a certain old-fashioned humor I appreciated, but several had fairly unsatisfactory endings, especially James Joyce's "The Dead."

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

several great short stories read for English class... all Irish writers, i'm beginning to really enjoy them!