Edna O'Brien Papers (1989-2009).
The collection covers Edna O’Brien’s literary career primarily from ca. 2000-2009, with some earlier works included. It consists of typescripts, proofs, handwritten drafts and research notes, as well as newspaper cuttings and correspondence. The collection also includes a small number of audio CDs of O’Brien’s fiction and media work, and a promotional poster. The manuscripts in this collection provide an insight into O'Brien's writing process. O'Brien writes her text in longhand which is then typed by her assistant Nadia Proudian. The collection also contains an extensive collection of correspondence, including letters and cards from prominent literary and public figures including John Banville, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tony and Cherie Blair, Lady Antonia Fraser, Brien Friel, Seamus Heaney, Neil Jordan, Rosaleen Linehan, Haruki Murakami, John McGahern, Alice Munroe, and Harold Pinter. In addition, there is correspondence with O’Brien’s publishers, along with letters from personal friends, all of which provide insights into Edna O’Brien’s life and influences.
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| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
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| Notes: | Edna O’Brien, novelist, short story writer, biographer and poet, was born in Tuamgraney, Co. Clare, in 1930. In 1950 she was awarded a license as a pharmacist. She married Czech/Irish writer Ernest Gébler in 1954 and they moved to London in 1957, with their two sons Carlo Gébler, the writer, and Sasha Gébler, the architect. The marriage ended in divorce in 1964. Her first book 'The Country Girls' was published in 1960 and was met with much criticism in Ireland due to its frank portrayal of sexuality. This and five subsequent books written by O'Brien were swiftly banned by the Irish Censorship Board. Autobiographical themes emerge in many of O'Brien's works, including 'A Pagan Place' (1970) and 'The Light of Evening' (2006). In addition to novels Edna O'Brien has written numerous short stories, including a biography of James Joyce. She has also written a number of plays including 'Virginia' (1980), 'Tír na nÓg: A play with songs' (2002), 'Triptych' (2003), 'Iphigenia' (2003), 'Family Butchers' (2005), and 'Haunted' (2009), as well as screenplays, poems and non-fiction works. In recognition of her outstanding literary contribution, O’Brien has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (1990), the Writers’ Guild Prize for fiction (1993), the European Prize for Literature (1995), the Irish PEN Lifetime Award (2001), and the Ulysses Medal from University College Dublin (2006). Physical description: 22 boxes. more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds I. Fiction. II. Plays. III. Biographical work & literary criticism. IV. Screenplays. V. Monologues & radio. VI. Poetry. VII. Non-Fiction. VIII. Publicity. IX. Correspondence. X. Works about Edna O'Brien. XI. Personal & miscellaneous. |
| Access: | Nine items MS 48,242/13, MS 48,260/9 and part of MS 48,270/9 are not currently available for consultation (NFC 157). |
| Published / Created: |
1989-2009.
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Typed drafts for Edna O’Brien’s Guardian Book Club essay on 'The Country Girls', for Saturday 19 April 2008, with handwritten notes for the same,
2008.
| In Collection: | Edna O'Brien Papers (1989-2009). |
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| Description: | With photocopy of readers’ responses page from Guardian Book Club, 26 April 2008. This article was published under the title: ‘Causing a commotion. Edna O’Brien recalls the furore surrounding the publication of The Country Girls’. |
| Main Creator: | |
| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 1 folder (6 items). |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS 48,243/3
(Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 2000, the papers in this collection are in copyright. It is necessary to obtain the express permission of the copyright owner before reproducing any material from this collection. |