The stories in this hilarious collection of five short novels are told through a series of fictional letters between a wide range of colorful characters drawn from Irish life in the hill country that divides the counties of Cork and Kerry. Letters of a Love-Hungry Farmer - an account of John Bosco McLane's search for a female companion; Letters of a Matchmaker - a small farmer involved in the delicate business of finding mates for the unattached; Letters of a Successful T.D. - the career and family life of a member of the Irish Parliament climbing the political ladder; Letters of a Parish Priest - Father Martin O'Mora's quest to root out sin among his parishioners; and Letters of a Country Postman - a gossipy postman tries to discover secrets hidden within the envelopes he delivers.

Ireland's favorite publican, playwright and storyteller gives us five novellas, each presented as a series of comical letters between colorful characters of the Kerry hills. These stories have become classics over the years as individual books, and are now available in a single volume. In the title story, bachelor farmer John Bosco McClane, at the age of 52, decides to seek a wife. The letters to a matchmaker, his aunt, his solicitor and others are all very funny, but in the background there lies the sad story of stark loneliness. In Letters of a Matchmaker a small farmer involves himself in the delicate business of finding mates for the unattached. Letters of a Successful T.D. gives us insight into the life of a politician on his way up the ladder. Father Martin O'Mora tries to root out sin among his parishioners in Letters of a Parish Priest, and Letters of a Country Postman tell of a gossip who tries to discover secrets hidden within the envelopes he delivers.

This reader’s guide provides uniquely organized and up-to-date information on the most important and enjoyable contemporary English-language novels. Offering critically substantiated reading recommendations, careful cross-referencing, and extensive indexing, this book is appropriate for both the weekend reader looking for the best new mystery and the full-time graduate student hoping to survey the latest in magical realism. More than 1,000 titles are included, each entry citing major reviews and giving a brief description for each book.

The Field is John B. Keane's fierce and tender study of the love a man can have for land and the ruthless lengths he will go to in order to obtain the object of his desire. It is dominated by Bull McCabe, one of the most famous characters in Irish writing today. An Oscar-nominated adaptation of The Field proved highly successful and popular worldwide, and starred Richard Harris, John Hurt, Brenda Fricker and Tom Berenger.

While the Irish Literary Revival began around 1885 and ended somewhere between 1925 and 1940, the Irish Renaissance has continued to the present day and shows no sign of abating. The period has produced some of the most important and influential figures in Irish literature, some of whom are counted among the world's greatest authors. The Revival saw a reestablishment of Ireland's literary connections with its Celtic heritage, and writers such as William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory drew heavily on the myths and legends of the past. James Joyce boldly reshaped the novel and wrote short fiction of enduring value. Contemporary Irish writers continue to be leading figures and include such authors as Brian Frigl, Seamus Heaney, and Eavan Boland. Included in this reference book are alphabetically arranged entries for more than 70 modern Irish writers, including Samuel Beckett, William Trevor, Patrick Kavanagh, Medbh McGuckian, Sean O'Casey, J. M. Synge, and Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill. Entries are written by expert contributors and reflect a broad range of perspectives. Each entry contains a brief biography that summarizes the author's career, a discussion of major works and themes, an overview of the author's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary works. An introductory essay reviews the large and growing body of scholarship on modern Irish literature, while an extensive bibliography concludes the volume.