The New Irish Studies, edited by Paige Reynolds (Cambridge University Press, 2020).
The New Irish Studies demonstrates how diverse critical approaches enable a richer understanding of contemporary Irish writing and culture. The early decades of the twenty-first century in Ireland and Northern Ireland have seen an astonishing rate of change, one that reflects the common understanding of the contemporary as a moment of acceleration and flux. This collection tracks how Irish writers have represented the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland, the consequences of the Celtic Tiger economic boom in the Republic, the waning influence of Catholicism, the increased authority of diverse voices, and an altered relationship with Europe. The essays acknowledge the distinctiveness of contemporary Irish literature, reflecting a sense that the local can shed light on the global, even as they reach beyond the limited tropes that have long identified Irish literature. The collection suggests routes forward for Irish Studies, and unsettles presumptions about what constitutes an Irish classic.
When ordering, ACIS members have access to a 20% discount (with the code TNIS2020):
Event: To celebrate the launch of The New Irish Studies, The Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) and the Dublin Book Festival have teamed together to host a virtual event called “Capturing the Contemporary” to be screened on 3 December 2020 from 8:00 -9:00 pm (GMT). For more information and to register for the event, see https://dublinbookfestival.com/programme/capturing-the-contemporary/