Tighe-Mooney, Sharon (2011) Exploring the Irish Catholic Mother in Kate O’Brien’s Pray for the Wanderer. In: Breaking the Mould: Literary Representations of Irish Catholicism. Reimagining Ireland Series. Peter Lang (Oxford). ISBN 978-3-0343-0232-6

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Abstract

Catholicism has played a central role in Irish society for centuries. It is sometimes perceived in a negative light, being associated with repression, antiquated morality and a warped view of sexuality. However, there are also the positive aspects that Catholicism brought to bear on Irish culture, such as the beauty of its rituals, education and health care, or concern for the poor and the underprivileged. Whatever their experience of Catholicism, writers of a certain generation could not escape its impact on their lives, an impact which is pervasive in the literature they produced. This study, containing twelve chapters written by a range of distinguished literary experts and emerging scholars, explores in a systematic manner the cross-fertilisation between Catholicism and Irish/Irish-American literature written in English. The figures addressed in the book include James Joyce, Maud Gonne, Constance Markievicz, Kate O'Brien, Edwin O'Connor, Brian Moore, John McGahern, Seamus Heaney, Paul Durcan, Vincent Carroll and Brian Friel. This book will serve to underline the complex relationship between creative writers and the once all-powerful religious Establishment.

Item Type:	Book Section
Keywords:	Irish Catholic Mother; Kate O’Brien; Pray for the Wanderer;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > School of English, Media & Theatre Studies
Item ID:	2745
Depositing User:	Sharon Tighe-Mooney
Date Deposited:	03 Oct 2011 13:14
Publisher:	Peter Lang (Oxford)
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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