Scéalta
Short Stories by Irish Women
Edited by Rebecca O'Connor
About the Book
The short story is one of Ireland’s national treasures, and within these pages are some of its finest practitioners — from such established names as Julia O’Faolain, Claire Keegan and Christine Dwyer Hickey, to the exciting new voices of Judy Kravis, Eithne McGuinness and Cherry Smyth.
Here we have stories of dysfunctional marriages, abnormal goings on in rural outposts, urban alienation, and kitchen sink dramas where the woman is no longer tied to the kitchen sink but railing against past wrongs. Issues of domestic violence, child abuse, and abortion are laid startlingly bare. The voices are bold, unsentimental, often very funny, and always deeply affecting.
About the Contributors
Rebecca O'Connor was born in Ireland in 1975. Her poetry has been published in the Guardian, Reactions 5 and Poetry Review, where she was awarded the Geoffrey Dearmer prize for 'Best New Poet' in 2004. She was shortlisted for the New Writing Ventures Poetry Award 2005, and her story The Mayfly was an award-winner in the 2003 Virago/Marie Claire short story competition. She was a writer-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust in 2005, where her pamphlet Poems was published.
About the Editor(s)
Rebecca O'Connor was born in Ireland in 1975. Her poetry has been published in the Guardian, Reactions 5 and Poetry Review, where she was awarded the Geoffrey Dearmer prize for 'Best New Poet' in 2004. She was shortlisted for the New Writing Ventures Poetry Award 2005, and her story The Mayfly was an award-winner in the 2003 Virago/Marie Claire short story competition. She was a writer-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust in 2005, where her pamphlet Poems was published.
Reviews
'An interesting and distinctive read ... yet another barometer of the current health of the Irish short story.' Evening Herald
'A must-have anthology of contemporary writing ... There are fifteen stories within this anthology, and each one a gem.' Mslexia
'These are stories that satisfy because they take time and space to develop ...' Irish Times
'One thing that does shine out [is] the sheer quality and craft of much of the writing ... many excellent writers included here.' Sunday Tribune
