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Selected Stories
Each of these stories is set in the north west of Ireland and deals with the everyday faiths and hopes which help their characters to survive. In many of them there is make believe and illusion, the necessary self-deceptions which enhance memory. In all of them there is humour, resilience and dignity.
- GenresIrish Literature
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Brian Friel
125 books141 followersBrian Friel is a playwright and, more recently, director of his own works from Ireland who now resides in County Donegal.
Friel was born in Omagh County Tyrone, the son of Patrick "Paddy" Friel, a primary school teacher and later a borough councillor in Derry, and Mary McLoone, postmistress of Glenties, County Donegal (Ulf Dantanus provides the most detail regarding Friel's parents and grandparents, see Books below). He received his education at St. Columb's College in Derry and the seminary at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (1945-48) from which he received his B.A., then he received his teacher's training at St. Mary's Training College in Belfast, 1949-50. He married Anne Morrison in 1954, with whom he has four daughters and one son; they remain married. From 1950 until 1960, he worked as a Maths teacher in the Derry primary and intermediate school system, until taking leave in 1960 to live off his savings and pursue a career as writer. In 1966, the Friels moved from 13 Malborough Street, Derry to Muff, County Donegal, eventually settling outside Greencastle, County Donegal.
He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1987 and served through 1989. In 1989, BBC Radio launched a "Brian Friel Season", a series devoted a six-play season to his work, the first living playwright to be so distinguished. In 1999 (April-August), Friel's 70th birthday was celebrated in Dublin with the Friel Festival during which ten of his plays were staged or presented as dramatic readings throughout Dublin; in conjunction with the festival were a conference, National Library exhibition, film screenings, outreach programs, pre-show talks, and the launching of a special issue of The Irish University Review devoted to the playwright; in 1999, he also received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Times.
On 22 January 2006 Friel was presented with a gold Torc by President Mary McAleese in recognition of the fact that the members of Aosdána have elected him a Saoi. Only five members of Aosdána can hold this honour at any one time and Friel joined fellow Saoithe Louis leBrocquy, Benedict Kiely (d. 2007), Seamus Heaney and Anthony Cronin. On acceptance of the gold Torc, Friel quipped, "I knew that being made a Saoi, really getting this award, is extreme unction; it is a final anointment--Aosdana's last rites."
In November 2008, Queen's University of Belfast announced its intention to build a new theatre complex and research center to be named The Brian Friel Theatre and Centre for Theatre Research.
Friel was born in Omagh County Tyrone, the son of Patrick "Paddy" Friel, a primary school teacher and later a borough councillor in Derry, and Mary McLoone, postmistress of Glenties, County Donegal (Ulf Dantanus provides the most detail regarding Friel's parents and grandparents, see Books below). He received his education at St. Columb's College in Derry and the seminary at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (1945-48) from which he received his B.A., then he received his teacher's training at St. Mary's Training College in Belfast, 1949-50. He married Anne Morrison in 1954, with whom he has four daughters and one son; they remain married. From 1950 until 1960, he worked as a Maths teacher in the Derry primary and intermediate school system, until taking leave in 1960 to live off his savings and pursue a career as writer. In 1966, the Friels moved from 13 Malborough Street, Derry to Muff, County Donegal, eventually settling outside Greencastle, County Donegal.
He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1987 and served through 1989. In 1989, BBC Radio launched a "Brian Friel Season", a series devoted a six-play season to his work, the first living playwright to be so distinguished. In 1999 (April-August), Friel's 70th birthday was celebrated in Dublin with the Friel Festival during which ten of his plays were staged or presented as dramatic readings throughout Dublin; in conjunction with the festival were a conference, National Library exhibition, film screenings, outreach programs, pre-show talks, and the launching of a special issue of The Irish University Review devoted to the playwright; in 1999, he also received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Times.
On 22 January 2006 Friel was presented with a gold Torc by President Mary McAleese in recognition of the fact that the members of Aosdána have elected him a Saoi. Only five members of Aosdána can hold this honour at any one time and Friel joined fellow Saoithe Louis leBrocquy, Benedict Kiely (d. 2007), Seamus Heaney and Anthony Cronin. On acceptance of the gold Torc, Friel quipped, "I knew that being made a Saoi, really getting this award, is extreme unction; it is a final anointment--Aosdana's last rites."
In November 2008, Queen's University of Belfast announced its intention to build a new theatre complex and research center to be named The Brian Friel Theatre and Centre for Theatre Research.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 16, 2015
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Made for 4 Extra. An outsider in Beannagreaghan instigates a poaching contest to ingratiate himself with town locals. Read by Adrian Dunbar.
Wonderful selection, and finely read.
4* Translations
4* Dancing at Lughnasa
3* Faith Healer
4* Selected Stories
Made for 4 Extra. An outsider in Beannagreaghan instigates a poaching contest to ingratiate himself with town locals. Read by Adrian Dunbar.
Wonderful selection, and finely read.
4* Translations
4* Dancing at Lughnasa
3* Faith Healer
4* Selected Stories
December 30, 2020
Like most short story collections, it's hit and miss but some lovely evocative stories, especially Among the Ruins
March 17, 2013
From BBC radio 4 Extra:
Readings of the famed Irish author's short stories.
Readings of the famed Irish author's short stories.
February 2, 2018
This is definitely worth reading. I had never heard of Brian Friel before I picked this up for a dollar at the Irish Heritage (Cultural? Whatever it's called.) Center. When I looked him up before reading I found out he was a great dramatist. One of his plays even debuted in Milwaukee! I am happy I stumbled across these stories.
They remind me of the feelings I have when I read Raymond Carver or James Joyce. These stories all deal with everyday events happening to working class - middle class protagonists. He tells of people acting out of character, seeking respectability, self-deception, and more with realism and humor.
Often, while reading a collection of short stories I can move quickly from one to the next. These stories demand more from the reader. After each one, I had to stop and contemplate for a moment (or more), and shake off a story-hangover, before moving on. Usually I only get book-hangovers - not story-hangovers. I find that's an indication of truly great storytelling.
They remind me of the feelings I have when I read Raymond Carver or James Joyce. These stories all deal with everyday events happening to working class - middle class protagonists. He tells of people acting out of character, seeking respectability, self-deception, and more with realism and humor.
Often, while reading a collection of short stories I can move quickly from one to the next. These stories demand more from the reader. After each one, I had to stop and contemplate for a moment (or more), and shake off a story-hangover, before moving on. Usually I only get book-hangovers - not story-hangovers. I find that's an indication of truly great storytelling.
Want to Read
March 6, 2022(The stories are not listed according to the collections in which they originally appeared. They are notated to reflect their publication:
The Saucer of Larks (1963)--SOL
Gold in the Sea (1966)--GIS)
Read so far:
The diviner (GIS)--3
The gold in the sea (GIS)--
The widowhood system (GIS)--
The potato gatherers (SOL)--
Mr. Sing My Heart's Delight (SOL) --3
*My father and the sergeant (SOL)--
Foundry house (SOL)--3
The illusionists (GIS)--
Ginger hero (GIS)--
A man's world (SOL)--
*Among the ruins (SOL)--
*The saucer of larks (SOL)--
Everything neat and tidy (GIS)--
The Saucer of Larks (1963)--SOL
Gold in the Sea (1966)--GIS)
Read so far:
The diviner (GIS)--3
The gold in the sea (GIS)--
The widowhood system (GIS)--
The potato gatherers (SOL)--
Mr. Sing My Heart's Delight (SOL) --3
*My father and the sergeant (SOL)--
Foundry house (SOL)--3
The illusionists (GIS)--
Ginger hero (GIS)--
A man's world (SOL)--
*Among the ruins (SOL)--
*The saucer of larks (SOL)--
Everything neat and tidy (GIS)--
March 17, 2024
A quite charming Collection of short stories beautifully told by Friel.
Tales of memories, place and nostalgia.
Charming,quaint,funny and heartwarming.
Thoroughly enjoyed my first venture into Brian Friel.
Tales of memories, place and nostalgia.
Charming,quaint,funny and heartwarming.
Thoroughly enjoyed my first venture into Brian Friel.
September 10, 2021
Dull. Sorry.
I've never read or seen Friel's plays, though I am well aware of their regard and fame.
I take it the stories were used as imaginative trial-runs.
I've never read or seen Friel's plays, though I am well aware of their regard and fame.
I take it the stories were used as imaginative trial-runs.
December 23, 2025
<рудик-зух> is top short story
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews