The banshees : a literary history of Irish American women writers / Sally Barr Ebest.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ebest, Sally Barr.

Series:

Irish Studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American literature--Irish American authors--History and criticism.

American literature.

American literature--Women authors--History and criticism.

American literature--20th century--History and criticism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (306 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Syracuse : Syracuse University Press, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Although much has been written about American feminism and its influence on culture and society, very little has been recorded about the key role played by Irish American women writers in exposing women's issues, protecting their rights, and anticipating, if not effecting, change. Like the mythical Irish banshee who delivered fore-warnings of imminent death, Irish American women, through their writing, have repeatedly warned of the death of women's rights. These messages carried the greatest potency at liminal times when feminism was under attack due to the politics of civil society, the government, or the church. The Banshees traces the feminist contributions of a wide range of Irish American women writers, from Mother Jones, Kate Chopin, and Margaret Mitchell to contemporary authors such as Gillian Flynn, Jennifer Egan, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. To illustrate the growth and significance of their writing, the book is organized chronologically by decade. Each chapter details the progress and setbacks of Irish American women during that period by revealing key themes in their novels and memoirs contextualized within a discussion of contemporary feminism, Catholicism, Irish American history, American politics, and society. The Banshees examines these writers' roles in protecting women's sovereignty, rights, and reputations. Thanks to their efforts, feminism is revealed as a fundamental element of Irish American literary history.

Contents:

1900-1960: ahead of their time

The 1960s: the rise of feminism

The 1970s: a state of upheaval

The 1980s: the war on women

The 1990s: fin de siècle

The new millennium: end of an era?

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780815652403

0815652402

OCLC:

872672604