Voices of Ireland: Classic Writings of a Rich and Rare Land

by Malachy McCourt

The Irish are renowned for their ability to tell a good story, and if there's one thing better than a well-told tale, it's a baker's dozen of them.This marvelous anthology edited by Malachy McCourt collects fiction, poetry, and essays by a variety of esteemed Irish writers over three centuries. From Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" to Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol and Other Poems to James Joyce's Dubliners these literary masterpieces form a collective record of the modern Irish experience. Also includes informative biographies that help bring the passion and spirit of each writer into focus.

Genres: Ireland, Irish Literature, History

1136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Malachy Gerard McCourt was an American-Irish actor, writer and politician. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Limerick, McCourt appeared in several films and soap operas, including The Molly Maguires, Brewster's Millions (1985), and Another World. He also wrote three memoirs, describing his life in Ireland and in the United States. McCourt was the 2006 Green Party candidate for governor of New York, losing to the Democratic candidate Eliot Spitzer. He was the younger brother of author Frank McCourt.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I prefer Malachy McCourt as a critic and historian rather than an autobiographer. This book comes with excellent and very useful notes, comments and background, without that interrupting the reading or upsetting the reader in any way. A great case for Irish literature and history without too much intervention by the editor (as it is not needed, as Irish lit fans already know).

[Paul Bauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The individual selections are fine but I'm not sure why the publisher included so many longer works that are readily available elsewhere.