Irish Studies Round the World ‐ 2010
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Estudios Irlandeses, Number 6, 2011, pp. 156-189 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ AEDEI IRISH STUDIES ROUND THE WORLD ‐ 2010 Patricia A. Lynch (ed.) Copyright (c) 2011 by the authors. This text may be archived and redistributed both in electronic form and in hard copy, provided that the authors and journal are properly cited and no fee is charged for access. Reflections on Irish Writing in 2010 by Patricia A. Lynch ................................................................................................... 158 Netherland (2008) by Joseph O’Neill Brian G Caraher .......................................................................................................... 165 Hand in the Fire (2010) by Hugo Hamilton Mairéad Conneely ....................................................................................................... 167 Out of the Earth: Ecocritical Readings of Irish Texts (2010) ed. by Christine Cusick John Eastlake ............................................................................................................. 169 J.G. Farrell - In His Own Words: Selected Letters and Diaries (2009) ed. by Lavinia Greacon Eoin Flannery ............................................................................................................. 172 Landing Places: Immigrant Poets in Ireland (2010) ed. by Eva Bourke and Borbála Faragó Luz Mar González-Arias ........................................................................................... 175 An Autumn Wind (2010) by Derek Mahon Karen Marguerite Moloney …. .................................................................................. 178 “Tinkers”: Synge and the Cultural History of the Irish Traveller (2010) by Mary Burke John L. Murphy .......................................................................................................... 181 __________________ ISSN 1699-311X 157 The Letters of Samuel Beckett. Volume I: 1929-1940 (2009) ed. by Martha Dow Fehsenfeld and Lois More Overbeck John L. Murphy … ..................................................................................................... .183 Ghost Light (2010) by Joseph O’Connor Tony Murray ............................................................................................................... .186 Until Before After (2010) by Ciaran Carson Keith Payne …..………..…........................................................................................ .188 158 Estudios Irlandeses, Number 6, 2011, pp. 158-164 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ AEDEI Reflections on Irish Writing in 2010 Patricia A. Lynch As incoming editor of the Irish Studies reviews I have been in touch with another Spanish for this prestigious journal, I am more than academic, Carolina Amador Moreno, about our grateful to Rosa Gonzalez and the editorial mutual work in Irish-English (Hiberno-English) committee of Estudios Irlandeses for entrusting and the use of this dialect in Irish literature. Both me with the task. It is with some trepidation that her Analysis of Hiberno-English in the Early I take up in the footsteps of David Pierce, who in Novels of Patrick McGill (2006) and her second the previous issues fulfilled that role with book An Introduction to Irish English (2010) will distinction. I am indeed grateful for the tips prove invaluable to any researcher interested in which he supplied to me to carry out the task, the subject. A reference to Dr. Amador’s work and for the examples given through the previous would not be complete without sending issues. 2010 has turned out to be a very sympathy to her and other friends of the late Dr. interesting year for me, a retired faculty member Anne McCarthy, which occurred very recently. in English Studies/Irish Studies from the Though I never had the pleasure of meeting her, University of Limerick, and one of the longest- it is clear that her death will be a great loss to serving members of IASIL (International Spanish research into Irish Studies. Association for the Study of Irish Literatures). At The past year has seen devastating changes in times, this reviews editorship involved a learning Ireland’s political life, its economy, and in its curve, which I hope will benefit readers of concomitant loss of some sovereignty in money subsequent issues. matters. There were also other troubles such as Over the years, I have had the double pleasure volcanic ash preventing air flight, severe weather of becoming friends with many Spanish in December of both years, and massive academics via IASIL, and also by acting as emigration. All make 2010 a year to forget, and Erasmus Exchange teacher at the University of to look forward to 2011. However, not Alcalá de Henares for short periods over five everything has been black. In the matter of years. There they have a thriving Irish Studies literature, there have been great achievements, as section which is the area of research choice for seen by the following examples. Literary many of their postgraduates. There was also the festivals have taken place and were adjudged as invaluable experience of hosting Spanish successful, for example, the Cúirt festival in academics on return Erasmus exchanges to the Galway last April, which was opened by author University of Limerick. Both formally and Roddy Doyle. In spite of the aforesaid problems informally I have had many animated with flights due to volcanic ash, there were many discussions of various Irish authors and critics great names in the world of books prepared to with Spanish professors. Over the years there has give readings from their works. Later in the same been cooperative work with academics in month, the sixth annual Heinrich Böll memorial Spanish in my own former School, that of weekend took place on his beloved Achill Island. Languages, Literature, Culture and Journals of Irish Studies have appeared as usual. Communication, at my home university. All of So many conferences in Irish Studies have been these combined gave me a huge respect for held, in Ireland, in various European countries various approaches to Irish Literature in English and in places much further away that it is emanating from Spain. In particular, I have had impossible to name all. Books of original very interesting conversations and correspond- literature have won praise and awards. These ence with Dr. Marisol Morales Ladrón. Secondly, include Emma Donoghue’s Room, shortlisted for ____________________________________ ISSN 1699-311X 159 the Man Booker Prize, and Paul Murray’s Skippy advanced level. “Ma” is extremely creative at Dies, longlisted for the same award. In my home using the very few resources at her command to city, I have had the experience of going to buy teach Jack a variety of other subjects entirely copies of both, hearing other customers making through play. To Jack, all of the objects which the same request, and finding that both books surround him seem an integral part of his life, so were sold out, awaiting new supplies. In other items such as Bed, Table, and even Room itself fora, public readings by authors are as frequent are referred to without a definite article, and as in previous years, and long may this continue. seem to have a life of their own: “I stroke Many works of literary and cultural criticism Table’s scratches to make them better; she’s a have also appeared, some of which will feature circle all white except gray in the scratches from in the individual works reviewed below. chopping foods” (p. 7). Pain, darkness and Postgraduate students in universities and colleges suspense appear when the boy’s developing in Ireland and beyond are still applying in more mind and the captor’s threat to starve them than satisfactory numbers to research aspects of prompt a change in the mother’s teaching. Jack Irish Studies. These produce valuable moves from protected child in an almost Oedipal informative books on a regular basis. relationship to one who must know about the It is always difficult to decide on particular dark side of his life. Very quickly he is coached works to review, especially in a field so prolific in preparation for a dangerous role, becoming his as Irish Studies. In the texts chosen for this mother’s knight who will rescue them. When issue, I have attempted to go for a broad sweep, they are eventually rescued, paradoxically some of original works of fiction and poetry, of literary of their most unhappy experiences occur; the and also cultural criticism, and of life-writing in mother’s courage is at length eroded to the extent the form of the correspondence of writers. I tried of taking an overdose. Finally, with legal also to use a mixture of reviewers from different matters being carried out and a reunion with the countries, both male and female, of new extended family, Jack requests his mother to let reviewers, and some who have already had work him visit Room once more, but the happiness he published in this journal. Another factor has experienced there is gone. He summarises: “It’s been the willingness or the opposite of publishers not Room now” (p.400), and ceremonially says to supply review copies. The reviewers in this goodbye to every part of it. issue are owed gratitude for their willingness to Family recurs as thematic in this novel as in undertake the task, their hard work and patience, many Irish works of fiction, but it is unusual as and for returning the pieces on time. Any errors the father is seen as no more than a