A Book for Mary Lavin's Centenary

The centenary of Mary Lavin’s birth occurred last year and there were a series of events organised in Meath where the writer lived for many years.

Now Irish Academic Press has published a collection of essays honouring her, one of the leading figures of the Irish short story tradition.

Throughout her lifetime, Mary Lavin’s writings were recognised and celebrated both at home and abroad.

Her first collection of stories, Tales from Bective Bridge, won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1943 and she won two Guggenheim awards in 1959 and 1961.

In this book leading critics examine the main themes and stylistic features of Lavin’s novels and short stories from a variety of perspectives. Heather Ingman explores the themes of masculinity and gender in Lavin’s writing;; family and community are the main themes analysed by Elke D’hoker.

Aspects of her own turbulent life are examined as her critics aim to understand her multiple meanings, contexts and concerns. This book is a poignant and significant study of the life, work and writings of one of Ireland’s most prolific female writers of the twentieth century, Mary Lavin.

The editor is Elke D’hoker, Associate Professor at the University of Leuven, Belgium, and the foreword is written by Colm Tobin.

The book is available in paperback, priced at €24.95 from good bookshops or from the publisher's website.