The Glass Shore: Short Stories by Women Writers from the North of Ireland

by Sinéad Gleeson (Editor)

The Glass Shore, compiled by award-winning editor, broadcaster and critic Sinéad Gleeson, provides an intimate and illuminating insight into a previously underappreciated literary canon.

Twenty-five female luminaries — whose lives and works cover three centuries — capture experiences that are both vivid and varied, despite their shared geographical heritage. Unavoidably affected by a difficult political past, this challenging landscape is navigated by characters who are searingly honest, humorous and, at times, heartbreakingly poignant. The result is a collection that is enthralling, stirring and quietly disconcerting.

Individually, these intriguing stories make an indelible impact and are cause for reflection and contemplation. Together, they transgress their social, political and gender constraints, instead collectively presenting a distinctive, resolute and impassioned voice worthy of recognition and admiration.

Genres: Short Stories, Irish Literature, Fiction, Short Story Collection, Ireland

378 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Eric Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over my winter holiday last year I read the anthology “The Long Gaze Back” and was enraptured by the quality of writing included. This book helped me discover writers such as Lisa McInerney, Maeve Brennan, Anakana Schofield and Lucy Caldwell whose books I’ve gone on to read and enjoy over the course of this year. But, as well as being a group of engaging stories in themselves, this anthology served as a self conscious attempt to give a necessary platform to Irish women writers in a canon dominated by male voices. Editor Sinéad Gleeson has now brought together a second volume “The Glass Shore” which only includes women writers from the North of Ireland. It’s a diverse array of fascinating short stories from over two centuries of writing that represent a plethora of authors from this region. It was wonderful reading this anthology from start to finish as I was treated to a wide variety of excellent stories with varying styles and subject matter. But I also gained a sense of the progressing ideas and issues female writers from Northern Ireland have dealt with in their fiction over time. The act of reading the stories in “The Glass Shore” together builds a cumulative mental portrait of this country from a variety of strong female points of view.

Read my full review of The Glass Shore edited by Sinéad Gleeson on LonesomeReader

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid collection, with Frances Molloy, Jan Carson and Lucy Caldwell's stories being particular highlights

[Grace Tierney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book for my mother (in her 80s) as she's from Northern Ireland. She told me she didn't enjoy most of the stories but urged me to try it. Sorry to say I agree. Many of the older stories had aged badly, others were overly literary for my taste. I enjoyed one where a woman finds her grandmother haunting her after she leaves Belfast and the Lucy Caldwell abortion story was well written (but pushing an agenda which I dislike in fiction). I wanted to enjoy this book, but I didn't. I do enjoy short fiction and count many female authors amongst my favs but this book wasn't to my taste.

[Carol Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book in Belfast a few years ago but never seemed to get started with it.

This collection of short stories written by female writers of Northern Ireland spanned 250 years. That effort to include some much older works is the reason I couldn’t give that fifth star, because some of the oldest stories just didn’t hold up. Loved loved loved “Settling” and added several writers to the must read more” list.

[Eithne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story is a jewel, and they are mostly writers I've never heard of. The Mystery of Ora is reminiscent of Dickens or even of Kidnapped. The final story by Róisín O Donnell is probably my favourite. It tells the story of The Old Woman of Beara who lives among us in plain sight, even though she is over 9,000 years old. Very entertaining.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just liked these stories and the selection here is great.

[Rachael Cullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this wonderful collection. An absolute treasure .