44 Irish Short Stories

by Devin A. Garrity (Editor)

The Irish have always had a way with words. Long ago they took on a language not their own and learned to re-word it into pure magic. Nowhere is this magic more in evidence than in their short stories—stories that combine lyricism, humor and tragedy with rare imagination set in simple backgrounds, largely without props.

The seemingly effortless art of the best Irish writers has an appeal that is naive and highly sophisticated at the same time; the disarming simplicity with which the tales are spun being somewhat misleading at the first reading.

In this anthology there are gathered, for the first time in America, some of the more representative examples of Irish short fiction. The emphasis is on variety. All are a delight to read. Only 21 of the 44 have previously been published in this country.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, Classics, Anthologies

500 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[Karol · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, older anthology.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection. Some of these stories will stay with me forever.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gosh, hard to rate as I found a few gems but most were so-so. Some I felt were dated and all were written in the late 19th century and early 20th.
A favorite "The happy giant", a poignant fantasy by Oscar Wilde,
also outstanding were
"Saint Bakeoven" where a man interacts with Beethoven's ghost,
another fantasy: "Kith of the Elf-folk" where a fairy-like creature becomes mortal and decides it's not for her
"Father Christmas": about a department store Santa
"The hawk": anthropomorphic story and feelings of a hawk from its viewpoint.
Many of the other stories showed different aspects of the Irish character. I liked some of the writing style and cadence of Irish speech.
There should be something for everyone in this grab bag of stories.

2.5 stars rounded to 3.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful assortment of great Irish writers and a well-chosen assortment of themes, plots, and characters. Some left me smiling. Some imparted wisdom. Some were disturbing. They all met my expectations for truly good stories. Short stories.

I admire anyone who can write a novel, and especially one who can write a really good short story. I've read full length novels by some of these authors, poets, and playwrights, and it does not surprise me that they can tackle short fiction as well.

While in the midst of a novel of several hundred pages, I like to take a break with a selection from a book such as this. Or a play. Or some poetry. We are bombarded with new publications all the time, and our book stores and libraries feature their special displays of "New Books." But I think there is a dearth of stories and poetry to be featured in those places, and so I make an effort to find them and add some balance and variety to my reading pleasure.

[Martin Bihl · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have the feeling this book was published in the 1950s, judging from the authors, which are primarily from the first half of the twentieth century, covering subject matter that is even earlier. so the book is an interesting introduction to a variety of authors i've not encountered before, which is always interesting. that said, it's still fairly uneven, and sometimes you get a little tired of the stock country characters and a bit too much of the "begorrah". still, any collection that includes yeats, oconnor, shaw, wilde kavanaugh and, of course, the brilliant (and overlooked) brian onolan, can't be all bad.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of short stories dating from 1900 to 1940s . Wonderful, eclectic , stimulating and portraying an Ireland long gone . Writers includedDamien Corkery, James Joyce, Bryan Mc Mahon, Mary Lavin, Patrick Kavanagh, Padraic O Connaire,Frank O Connor, Sean O Faolain, Liam O Flaherty, George Bernard Shaw , James Stevens , Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats . The stories featured fairies, policemen, ordinary peasants of Ireland of their time. A fascinating collection , every story a gem.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be a perfect book to read before my trip to Ireland. I especially enjoyed Yeats, Wilde and O'Kelly.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong selection of stories first published in 1955 that bears the mark of its vintage in that all but one of the authors sampled herein is male. The lone exception is the remarkable Mary Lavin and her heart-rending "The Story of the Widow's Son." My reason for not giving it a full five-star rating is not the anachronistic one however, it is that some of the more allegorical stories and those seeking to represent Irish folk wisdom (complete with wee people and the shadow of the miraculous) are weak compared to those which display the grueling poverty, self-destruction of alcoholism, and punishing parochialism of Irish social life so prevalent until fairly recent years. Sometimes this is done with a winning sense of humor, as in Frank O'Connor's "The Drunkard", but more often with chilling realism, as in James Plunkett's "Weep For Our Pride", and in James Joyce's unforgettable "Counterparts" (from Dubliners).

[Alec]

#16
“Take your feet down off that mantelpiece,” he'd say, “and get out on patrol. Who knows what malicious damage or burglary or larceny is going on under the cover of night!” And up I'd have to get, put on my coat and go in next door to listen to the news.

#20
“Just a minute,” said John, and he plucked the caramel paper from the Manager's heel, crumpled it between his fingers, and put it in his pocket.

#26
“I'll take him home,” Father said despairingly. . . . “I'll never bring you out again,” he threatened me. “Here,” he added, giving me the clean handkerchief from his breast pocket, “put that over your eye.”

[Bill S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorites:

Frank O'Connor - For me, the undisputed master of the Irish Short Story (Yes, not Joyce. You always wait for something to happen in a Joyce story, and when it does, you think, "Oh, that was it???). "The Drunkard" is a funny story of a boy who drinks his father's beer at a funeral and creates a scene in town. He becomes a hero to his mother. She saved the father from getting drunk which would usually result in a long binge.
"The Majesty of the Law" - Unusual for O'connor in that it is not first person narration. A police officer spends time with a man in his home and only as he goes to leave does he ask if he will pay the fine he owes and if not when would be a good time to turn himself in? Next Friday the man says. He wants the man he hit to feel guilty when he goes to prison. O'Connor is one of those writers who can capture so much in one sentence: "Dan had looked after his mother while the life was in her, and after her death no woman had crossed his threshold."

Lavin's "The Widow's Son" - Has two alternative endings.

Wilde - "The Happy Prince" - wonderful fairy tale about mercy.

George Bernard Shaw - "The Miraculous Revenge" - clever and funny. A man is sent as a secret agent from the Cardinal to investigate a miracle. After a local notorious sinner was buried in a holy graveyard, the entire graveyard, overnight, ends up on the other side of the river. A clear miracle to anyone who looks at the ordinance map. The "spy" is rebuffed by a local girl, struck by her boyfriend, and treated badly by the local Priest whose reputation is on the line. So, he has his revenge. He digs up the sinner at night and moves the body to the new location of the cemetery. Sure enough, the graveyard moves back to its original location to get away from the sinner. The Priest is removed.

O'Corkery - "The Awakening" Story of the rise and passing of a captainship of a fishing vessel.

O'Faolain, O'Flaherty impressed me in a previous collection. The stories from them in this book were good but not great.

[Oconnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began reading this a year ago before a 4 week trip to Ireland. I was encouraged that the stories were selected to provide insight Irish culture without leaning on Irish tropes like fighting and drinking. It features a wide range of classic authors, most from before independence. Most stories are less than 10 pages. British tyranny and famines poke out of the darkness is some places, but don't play an obvious role. This is a book best read in several sittings, to give yourself a chance to absorb the flashes of brilliance that shine in these short works.

[Terri Vlasak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many charming stories. Although you will need to overlook some dated and politically incorrect aspects of the stories. Well worth the read

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the 1955 edition, which includes the almost omniscient "Araby" by James Joyce and the ethereal "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde. There is also a surprisingly bizarre story "The Miraculous Revenge" by George Bernard Shaw (a renowned atheist) that proved that not only God exists but has a sick sense of humor.



Irish writers make an art out of misery. However some of these stories will make you damn well suicidal -- especially "The Black Mare" by Edward Sheehy, "The Hawk" by Liam O'Flaherty and "Weep For Our Pride" by James Plunkett.



Also, I wonder what Irish readers think of this book since it does show lots of stereotypes like drunk Irishmen and Irish saying, "Beggorah!" I lived in the UK for five years and met me many Irish folks and although they did drink not one said "Beggorah!"

[David Vanness · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of 5 to 25 page shorts. The subtitle is "An Anthology of Irish Short Fiction from Yeats to Frank O'Conner". Of the 33 different authors, I enjoyed Oscar Wilde's as much as any. I found most of the shorts enjoyable. Finished my day with one each night. Am loaning to a interested lady at next bookclub meeting. I do like shorts. Back in the 60's I subscribed to "SHORT STORY INTERNATIONAL".

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really neat tales in here, and very little fluff. Yeats unfortunately closes the book with some odd clunkers, but most of the stories are quite fun, including a Christmas story that will likely become part of my yearly read-aloud stories. Good show.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful book when you need a quick escape but don't have time to read an entire novel.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the book after a trip to Ireland. Some of the stories were hard to follow, but fun after having been to some of the locations.

[Machim]

short stories,Irish

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like this collection of stories, wide variety of snapshots of Irish life.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the stories were okay, but mostly boring. : (

[Lea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only enjoyed two stories out of forty-four!

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

magical. due a reread.

[Alison Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all compilations of short stories, it's difficult to rate. Some stories I loved, others, not so much.

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. Boring.

[Frank Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent set of short stories, and a great introduction to Irish fiction.

[Glenn Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

44 Irish Short Stories was published in 1955 and draws from throughout the first half of the 20th Century - a favorable period for my tastes, as it falls neatly between the long-winded tomes of the 19th Century and Joyce/Beckett modernism. (It does include two Joyce stories, but both are from Dubliners, which is more traditional than the rest of his work.) I hadn't heard of most of the writers, and I have to admit that, even afterward, most of the Mc's and O's (almost all of the men) tend to blur together. Overall, though, the book was very satisfying - stories drawn mostly from Ireland's working classes, with considerable amounts of religious friction and nature lyricism, and a smattering of the supernatural. There are at least half a dozen writers here that I want to explore further although, if this afternoon's browsing of my local used bookstore is any indication, I'll probably have to scour the Internet to find any of their books.