Overview
refines our understanding of the Irishness and (qualified) Britishness of writers from Church of Ireland backgrounds
highlights and explores the work of important women writers who are often excluded or unjustly marginalised in studies devoted to Irish literary history
examines the work of celebrated writers whose work is frequently regarded as part of the English canon and ignored in studies devoted to Irish literary history
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Table of contents (6 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book discusses key works by important writers from Church of Ireland backgrounds (from Farquhar and Swift to Beckett and Bardwell), in order to demonstrate that writers from this Irish subculture have a unique socio-political viewpoint which is imperfectly understood. The Anglican Ascendancy was historically referred to as a “middle nation” between Ireland and Britain, and this book is an examination of the various ways in which Irish Anglican writers have signalled their Irish/British hybridity. “British” elements in their work are pointed out, but so are manifestations of their proud Irishness and what Elizabeth Bowen called her community’s “subtle … anti-Englishness.” Crucially, this book discusses several writers often excluded from the “truly” Irish canon, including (among others) Laurence Sterne, Elizabeth Griffith, and C.S. Lewis.
Reviews
“David Clare’s book on the Irish Anglican tradition in writing and theatre history is a concise, accessible, and effectively argued work … . this excellent and concise study equips us with an insightful account of the historical and cultural ambiguities that imbue our present.” (Mike Griffin, Estudios Irlandeses, Vol. 17, 2022)
“This is both an authoritative handbook to the particular hybrid culture of Irish Anglicans, and an illuminating series of case studies of often overlooked Irish writers from the 18th to 20th centuries. With a refreshing emphasis on women writers, Clare examines the intertwined influences of nation and religion, and gives new insight into writers whose work is central to any canon of Irish literature.” (Emilie Pine, University College Dublin, Ireland)
“The introduction to David Clare’s lively and accessible study makes the case that a nuanced and sympathetic view of Irish Anglican writers such as Lady Gregory and Leland Bardwell (whose political and ethnic affiliations have often been suspiciously scrutinized from a nationalist perspective) can contribute to shaping an inclusive society increasingly made up of hybrid subjects. The book as a whole offers thought-provoking insights, for both general and specialist readers, into the work of a wide range of well-known writers (Gregory, C. S. Lewis, Shaw), as well as enabling readers to discover almost forgotten figures such as the 18th-century playwright Elizabeth Griffith.” (Clíona Ó Gallchoir, University College Cork, Ireland)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Irish Anglican Literature and Drama
Book Subtitle: Hybridity and Discord
Authors: David Clare
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68353-5
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media Studies, Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2021
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-68352-8Published: 20 May 2021
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-68353-5Published: 19 May 2021
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 153
Topics: National/Regional Theatre and Performance, History of Religion, Literary History, Anglicanism, History of Britain and Ireland