Annie

by Paul Smith

This book was originally titled 'Annie' and tells of a young girl in historic Dublin trying to find jobs over the summer so she will not have to go to work in a factory.

Genres: Literary Fiction

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Paul Smith was an Irish writer and playwright.

Smith was born near Charlemont Street in Dublin, the son of a wheelwright. He became involved with the Gate Theatre at 16 years of age. In Ireland he worked as a costume maker and designer in the Abbey and Gate Theatres in Dublin. He went to London in the 50s and then on to Sweden, where he started writing. He then moved to America and soon after to Australia, where he settled in Melbourne for some years. While there he wrote The Countrywoman (1962), The Stubborn Season (1962), and 'Stravanga (1963). He returned to Dublin in 1972 where he remained until he died.

He was awarded the American Irish Foundation Literary Award in 1978, and was a member of Aosdána.

Works:
Esther's Altar (NY: Abelard-Schuman 1959), later reprinted as Come Trailing Blood (London: Quartet Books 1977)
The Stubborn Season (London: Heinemann 1961)
The Countrywoman (London: Heinemann 1962)
'Stravanga (London: Heinemann 1963)
Summer Sang in Me

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contains a lot of language of the day so not everyone will find it easy to read. The book was originally titled 'Annie' and tells of a girl in historic Dublin trying to find jobs over the summer so she will not have to go to work in a factory. Smith evokes the poverty and sheer hard struggle of trying to get by in those days, much less make a success as a trader. The wealthy houses needed servants but preferred country girls as they were thought to be less cheeky and more honest.
Smith also wrote 'The Countrywoman'.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contains a lot of language of the day so not everyone will find it easy to read. The book was retitled 'Summer Sang In Me' and tells of a girl in historic Dublin trying to find jobs over the summer so she will not have to go to work in a factory. Smith evokes the poverty and sheer hard struggle of trying to get by in those days, much less make a success as a trader. The wealthy houses needed servants but preferred country girls as they were thought to be less cheeky and more honest.
Smith also wrote 'The Countrywoman'.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragic, fierce, gritty. I love the narrator, Tucker!!!!!!