The Contemporary Irish Novel 1960 to the Present

This course will explore representations of Ireland and Irishness in contemporary Irish novels. Famous for its literary tradition, since 1960 Ireland has gone through radical social and political transformation and writers have challenged established notions of Irish identity and questioned the limits and possibilities of what it means to be Irish. We will investigate how the contemporary Irish novel represents this change side by side with a concern for continuity with the traditions that have formed Irish identity, that is, the tension between innovation and tradition which characterises this writing. Starting with Edna O'Brien's The Country Girls which was banned in Ireland for its representation of young female experience, the course will examine literary strategies in fiction from the North and South, focusing on questions of identity regarding nationality, gender, faith, class and sexuality. Credit Level: 10 Year taken: Year 3 Undergraduate

Not running in 2025/26