A bibliographical approach to Irish literature in English

Abstract

The idea of this bibliographical list is to present a working bibliography for the use of the student approaching Irish literature for the first time. We have no pretensions to exhaustiveness and it is clear that such major authors as Yeats, Joyce or Beckett are only represented here by a minimum number of critical studies. The works have been divided into different sections by area, as follows: i) general, ii) literature in Irish, folklore, myth and their relation to Irish literature in English, iii) poetry, iv) drama, and v) fiction. One section has been devoted to letters, biographies and related areas of interest, and one to the geographical, artistic and historical contexts. Finally there is a section listing studies of language. Though some of the material listed could be assigned to several sections, it appears only in the section to which we think it is most relevant. Since a list of some of the most important periodicals and magazines on the subject of Irish literature in English has been included, no individual articles have been mentioned. The criterion followed in making the selection was to cover the widest possible area rather than concentrating on one specific topic or field. It is hoped that this procedure will afford the student the opportunity of making contact with a greater variety of material. A current checklist of Anglo-Irish literary research was initiated by the RIA (Royal Irish Academy) Committee for Anglo-Irish Literature in 1974, while an annual IASAIL (International Association for the Study of Anglo-Irish Literature) bibliography has appeared in The Irish University Review since 1975.