The Eldest Child

by Maeve Brennan

Genres: Short Stories

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Maeve Brennan (January 6, 1917-1993) was an Irish short story writer and journalist. She moved to the United States in 1934 when her father was appointed to the Irish Legation in Washington. She was an important figure in both Irish diaspora writing and in Irish writing itself. Collections of her articles, short stories, and a novella have been published.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They wanted her to be silent and not speak of this knowledge she had now, the knowledge that made her afraid.”

This is a short and simple story, but Brennan’s ability to describe the imperceptible gives it a surprising depth and a unique slant. Her story collections have been on my radar for some time, and I’m looking forward to her later work especially.