Down by the river is a 1997 novel by irish novelist edna obrien. Selected workwild decembers 2000james joyce 1999down by the river 1997house of splendid isolation. Down by the river, a novel library binding january 1, 1997 by edna obrien author visit amazons edna obrien page. Her short story collections include a scandalous woman, a fanatic heart, and lantern slides. She describes her hometown as a small bigoted, fervid and enclosed small village that she hated. From publishers weekly inspired by a highly controversial incident that took place in ireland a few years ago, obriens latest novel after house of splendid isolation is a riveting and resonating story. Obrien, whose early books were censored, has no doubt. Down by the river is loosely based on an incident that occurred in 1992 involving a fourteenyearold girl, pregnant, it was thought, as the result of. The author, most recently, of the love object says joyce staked his claim on dublin, and it was left to yeats, j. Find signed collectible books by edna obrien english. For lovers of edna o,brien,s books this will not disappointa wonderful read. Irish writers in america edna obrien down by the river. Buy down by the river by edna obrien online at alibris. Synge and beckett to give us the landscape of the country in all its.
Down by the river book by edna obrien half price books. Down by the river is a 1997 novel by irish novelist edna o brien. Nearly 14 and pregnant, the heroine of edna obriens new novel becomes the. A crime of passion results in an emotional battlefield for. Edna obrien is still gripped by dark moral questions the. Down by the river, though written in 1996, is relevant in todays political climate where government and religious forces wage war on womens bodies. Click to read more about down by the river by edna o brien. How edna obrien found sanctuary among jewishamerican writers.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Down by the river by edna obrien books hachette australia. Edna obrien, irish novelist, shortstory writer, and screenwriter whose work has been noted for its portrayals of women, evocative description, and sexual candor. How edna obrien found sanctuary among jewishamerican writers repudiated in ireland, the author found a receptive audience among writers such as bellow, roth and mailer tue, aug 20, 2019, 06. This seller has earned a 5 of 5 stars rating from biblio customers. Obriens previous novel, the house of splendid isolation, is now in its 7th printing in plume.
Down by the river is just the latest in a long line of fiercely honest books by a fearlessly honest author. A crime of passion results in an emotional battlefield for one and all, with opposing factions taking militant sides. Shelagh delaney edna obrien lynne reidbanks charlotte bingham nell dunn virginia ironside margaret forster. Buy a cheap copy of down by the river book by edna obrien. See all books authored by edna obrien, including the country girls trilogy and epilogue, and the little red chairs, and more on. I have owned this book for many years and finally read it. Buy a cheap copy of down by the river book by edna o brien. Buy down by the river by edna o brien online at alibris. Down by the river by edna obrien 1997 0430 edna obrien on. Edna obrien remembers, as a child, heated debate at home over the treaty that divided families and ireland in every sense, after years of strife and the easter rising of 1916. I was lonely, cut off from the dance of life the controversial authors latest novel sees a woman fall for an outsider with a dark past. By the end, its consequences have addressed and divided the political and judicial fabric of the nation. Down by the river by edna o brien, 9781857998733, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
A head of them the road runs in a long entwined undulation of mud, patched tar and fjords of green, the grassy surfaces rutted and trampled, but the young shoots surgent in the sun. May 24, 2015 the author, most recently, of the love object says joyce staked his claim on dublin, and it was left to yeats, j. A few years ago, ireland was forced to confront its conscience when a 14yearold girl, the purported victim of rape, sought an abortion in england. Dec 29, 20 edna o brien on her novel, down by the river see more irish writers in america on cuny tv. Obrien does a fine job capturing the horrors of incest as well as the ramifications of a closedminded society upon the victim. Set in the authors native ireland, a powerful and passionate novel. Set in her native ireland, edna obriens newest novel explores t.
She was born in county clare ireland in 1930 and spent most of her childhood in the small town of twamgraney. Wild decembers by obrien, edna and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Oct 10, 2015 edna obrien remembers, as a child, heated debate at home over the treaty that divided families and ireland in every sense, after years of strife and the easter rising of 1916. Down by the river is loosely based on an incident that occurred in 1992 involving a fourteenyearold girl, pregnant, it was thought, as the result of rape. A controversial novel which challenges the moral standing of the roman catholic church in ireland.
In the early 1960s obriens portrayals of rebellious young irish women were deemed too risque in her native country, where for a time her books were banned. Expatriate irish writer obrien house of splendid isolation, 1994, etc. The case several years ago of an irish girl who was barred by judicial decree from leaving the country to procure an abortion was bound to work its way into fiction, and obrien was probably the. Josephine edna o brien, dbe born 15 december 1930 is an irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short story writer. Down by the river is her most exciting and rewarding book by far observer publisher. Her book about james joyce was published in 1999 a. Edna obrien is still writing about women on the run. The case several years ago of an irish girl who was barred by judicial decree from leaving the country to procure an abortion was bound to work its way into fiction, and o brien was probably the likeliest to. The ensuing legal battle in a country which bans abortions. How edna obrien found sanctuary among jewishamerican writers repudiated in ireland, the author found a receptive audience among writers such. Edna obrien on her novel, down by the river see more irish writers in america on cuny tv. Down by the river by edna obrien, 9781857998733, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Edna obrien is still gripped by dark moral questions. Down by the river more editions of down by the river. Click to read more about down by the river by edna obrien. Edna obrien is still writing about women on the run the. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. After living in dublin, she moved 1954 to london, where she still lives. Buy down by the river by obrien, edna from amazons fiction books store. Apr 01, 1997 edna o brien is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers writes of feminist issues without flinching away from violence, in dark, turbulent prose juxtaposed by settings in pastoral ireland. Expatriate irish writer o brien house of splendid isolation, 1994, etc.
Aug 25, 2019 girl by edna obrien is published by faber. Down by the river has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. In addition to her novels edna obrien has written plays and screenplays, and biographies of james joyce and lord byron, as well as numerous books of short stories, including her 2011 collection, saints and sinners. The novel depicts the response of a local community the a girl, mary, abuse by her father being exposed to their local community when she tries to get an abortion. Philip roth considers her the most gifted woman now writing in english, while former president of ireland ma. Novelist edna obrien on sex, books and a lifetime of defiance she battled her mother, a country and a religion to put female sexuality on. Reviews of down by the river are some of the best of obriens distinguished career. Edna obrien books list of books by author edna obrien.
In fact, in girl and a number of obriens other books, it is a nun or priest who comes to the protagonists rescue and provides safe harbor from the violence of men. Down by the river by edna obrien 1997, hardcover for sale. Edna obrien is an irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short story writer. Like the works of her predecessors james joyce and frank oconnor, some of her books were banned in ireland. Down by the river by edna obrien 1997, hardcover for. For sixty years she has been creating stories that give voice to women fighting to overcome the circumstances into which they were born. Philip roth described her as the most gifted woman now writing in english, while the former president of ireland mary robinson cited her as one of the great creative writers of her generation. Last month novelist edna obrien was elected a saoi in her native ireland, alongside william trevor. Down by the river begins, deceptively, in an idyllic rural. Down by the river begins, deceptively, in an idyllic rural setting somewhere in ireland.
Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Jul 14, 2017 novelist edna obrien on sex, books and a lifetime of defiance she battled her mother, a country and a religion to put female sexuality on the page. Shelagh delaney edna obrien lynne reidbanks charlotte bingham nell dunn virginia ironside margaret. Edna obrien is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers writes of feminist issues without flinching away from violence, in dark, turbulent prose juxtaposed by settings in pastoral ireland. Edna obrien is an irish novelist, screenwriter, and short story author from ireland. Edna obrien is the internationally acclaimed author of more than thirty books, including wild decembers, down by the river, in the forest, house of splendid isolation, time and tide, and lantern slides. The novel depicts the response of a local community the a girl, mary, abuse by her father being. Her constant theme and the setting of her fiction, however, is ireland. Edna obrien is the internationally acclaimed author of more than 20 books including down by the river, the country girls, and a fanatic heart. Down by the river by edna obrien used books and rare books.