Seeking a Country: Literary Autobiographies of Twentieth-Century Irishwomen

by Taura S. Napier

Overview

Although there are numerous published studies of Irish literature, and several women's autobiographies, none has combined these areas of study. Literary autobiographies of both women and men have gained popularity and scholarly attention over the last three decades, especially twentieth-century women's autobiographies.
This study identifies and examines the Irishwomen's literary autobiography and traces its development through the twentieth century. The opening chapter discusses autobiographical trends prior to the present century in Ireland, and charts major movements in forming the women's autobiography of the twentieth century. Of particular importance are the ways in which the life stories of Irish women writers both affirm and contradict intercultural theories of women's autobiography, how these writers manifest their autobiographical "I" as a deflected entity, and the relevance of class and religious background to the autobiographical voices of women in Ireland. The core discussion of the study focuses on the self-narratives of Lady Augusta Gregory, Katharine Tynan, Mary Colum, Elizabeth Bowen, Kate O'Brien, and Eavan Boland.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761819349
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	11/20/2001
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.74(d)

About the Author

Taura S. Napier is Assistant Professor of English at Wingate University in North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Illustrations Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Pilgrimage to the Self Chapter 4 Books of the People: Lady Gregory's Written Life Chapter 5 "Only the Golden Hours:" The Fearless Naiveté of Katharine Tynan Chapter 6 The Mosaic "I:" Mary Colum and Modern Irish Autobiography Chapter 7 "Indestructible Landmarks in a Destructible World:" The Autoethnography of Elizabeth Bowen Chapter 8 "External Impressions of Life:" The Paradoxical Autobiographies of Kate O'Brien Chapter 9 Histories of the Future: Eavan Boland's Object Lessons Chapter 10 A Phylogeny of Irishwomen's Literary Autobiography Chapter 11 References Chapter 12 A Bibliography of Irishwomen's Autobiography: 1691 to the Present Chapter 13 Index

Editorial Reviews

The book will be a useful research tool because Napier provides valuable chapter notes and an extensive bibliography, which includes both general sources and Irishwomen's autobiographies dating from 1691 to the present. The work belongs in libraries that have strong collections in women's studies, genre studies, and Irish literature. Graduate students, researchers, faculty.

Choice Reviews - MH. Kealy

Like many of the texts she examines, Napier's study is a densely-patterned and thought-provoking work. 'Seeking a Country' is a valuable both as a theoretical consideration of the genre of autobiography, and as an investigation of the lives and work of some of twentieth century Ireland's most influential women authors.

Biography 26.3 - Jacqueline Belanger

Like many of the texts she examines, Napier's study is a densely-patterned and thought-provoking work. 'Seeking a Country' is a valuable both as a theoretical consideration of the genre of autobiography, and as an investigation of the lives and work of some of twentieth century Ireland's most influential women authors.--Jacqueline Belanger "Biography 26.3 "

The book will be a useful research tool because Napier provides valuable chapter notes and an extensive bibliography, which includes both general sources and Irishwomen's autobiographies dating from 1691 to the present. The work belongs in libraries that have strong collections in women's studies, genre studies, and Irish literature. Graduate students, researchers, faculty.--MH. Kealy, Immaculata College "CHOICE "

From the Publisher

Like many of the texts she examines, Napier's study is a densely-patterned and thought-provoking work. 'Seeking a Country' is a valuable both as a theoretical consideration of the genre of autobiography, and as an investigation of the lives and work of some of twentieth century Ireland's most influential women authors.
— Jacqueline Belanger

Biography 26.3

The book will be a useful research tool because Napier provides valuable chapter notes and an extensive bibliography, which includes both general sources and Irishwomen's autobiographies dating from 1691 to the present. The work belongs in libraries that have strong collections in women's studies, genre studies, and Irish literature. Graduate students, researchers, faculty.
— MH. Kealy, Immaculata College

Choice