Edna O. Brien Books







I love fire. Fire is the colour of genius.In this audacious new work, Edna O'Brien gives voice to the women who were central to the life of James Joyce.'James Joyce had been my ultimate hero for sixty years, but to paint the canvas of his life was daunting. Therefore I decided to depict him as seen by the key figures in his life - Mother, Wife, Mistress of a fleeting moment, his patron Harriet Weaver and his beloved Daughter Lucia, of whom he said her mind was but a transparent leaf away from his.'Written to celebrate the centenary of Ulysses , Joyce's Women premiered at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in September 2022.
Byron in love
- 240 pages
- 9 hours of reading
The nobility, arrogance and sheer theatre of Byron's life.
One of Ireland's greatest contemporary writers turns her attention to one of the country's greatest novelists: James Joyce.
Casualties of Peace
- 144 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Willa had loved, Had been mangled by love, Wrung dry enought to crack. Her desperation mirrored in the World of glass she built to fileter out the threat of feeling, With Tom and Patsy, to secure a kind of Peace.
Mother Ireland
- 89 pages
- 4 hours of reading
"Mother Ireland" includes seven essays seamlessly woven into an autobiographical tapestry. In her lyrical, sensuous voice, O'Brien describes growing up in rural County Clare, from her days in a convent school to her first kiss to her eventual migration to England. Weaving her own personal history with the history of Ireland, she effortlessly melds local customs and ancient lore with the fascinating people and events that shaped he young life. The result is a colorful and timeless narrative that perfectly captures the heart and soul of this harshly beautiful country.
"This omnibus edition, with a new epilogue by the author, was originally published in 1986 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux as The country girls trilogy and epilogue."--Title page verso.
The Dazzle
- 48 pages
- 2 hours of reading
Timothy would like to go to sleep at bedtime but everything keeps talking and the noise keeps him awake. The basin talked to the pitcher, while the Statue of the Infant told everyone of Timothy's secrets. The mop and the curtains had something to say and the General in the picture frame kept shouting commands. Then one night the roof began leaking right over his bed, and Timothy had to move to the box room until it could be fixed. He was worried! The first night, after Timothy had been tucked in bed, he was awakened by a little mouse who shared a wonderful surprise.
The country girls trilogy
- 704 pages
- 25 hours of reading
As one of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World,' this iconic trilogy vividly portrays the lives of two girls in rural 1950s Ireland. Edna O'Brien's debut novels revolutionized Irish literature in the 1960s, facing bans and censorship due to their candid exploration of sexual desire. This notoriety quickly transformed into fame, establishing the series as a bestseller and classic. Caithleen 'Kate' Brady and Bridget 'Baba' Brennan grow up in a repressive Irish village post-World War II. Kate is a romantic in search of love, while Baba embodies a reckless survivor. Expelled from convent school, they aspire to the bright lights of Dublin, only to encounter disappointment, bad luck, and misguided relationships. They marry and betray for the wrong reasons, all while challenging the societal expectations imposed on young women. Published in an omnibus edition with a new foreword by Eimear McBride, O'Brien's poignant exploration of innocence, love, despair, and resilience continues to resonate with readers, showcasing her bravery, lyricism, and humor. Edna O'Brien's latest novel, Girl, is set to be released by Faber in September 2019 and is available for pre-order.
A controversial novel that challenges the moral standing of the Roman Catholic church in Ireland from one of the country's most celebrated writers.


