During the writing of Nora, O’Connor says she developed a deeper empathy for James Joyce, perhaps because she now understands his writerly life. It is through her protagonist’s perverse love for Joyce that a reader sees the man’s redeeming features. Continue reading
Filed under literature …
New Irish Fiction
Three new Irish novels. Continue reading
The Nation writers emigrate to Melbourne
It is a remarkable fact that three writers associated with The Nation newspaper emigrated to Melbourne in the mid-1850s: Edward Hayes, Charles Gavan Duffy and Gerald Henry Supple. Professionally diverse, they shared a deep love of poetry and song. Continue reading
A Brief History of the Irish in Australia
A summary of Irish role in history and literature of Australia, written prior to more recent research and publications in the area. Continue reading
The Irish Travellers
Travellers have been acknowledged as a distinct ethnic group within the Irish population. Continue reading
Learning about Australia from John O’Brien
For many in Ireland, ‘Around the Boree Log’ was our introduction to Australia. Continue reading
Jonathan Swift: On the Road to Ireland
Clive Probyn reads the Holyhead journal of 1727 as a turning point in his life. Continue reading
The Face of Irish Australian Literature
A review of two books, a disturbing one about Keneally’s literary career, and his unsentimental and searching novel on clerical abuse in the catholic church. And an invitation to read and review the Keneally novels you’ve not got around to….. Continue reading
Something Special …
Surely a woman could not have done this on her own. Surely a woman could not have seen what this festering tyrant was doing. Surely a woman could not have known that tyranny incubates and flies across borders. Continue reading
Poetry as Autobiography
Poetry and Paul Kelly’s preferences provide insight into the singer/songwriter’s mind. Continue reading