The Banshees: A Literary History of Irish American Women Writers
This book covers the lives of women writers through the decades. I love the reasoning behind using the banshee as the symbol for the women’s group.
Chapter 1: 1900-1960s: Ahead of Their Time
Chapter 2: The 1960s: The Rise of Feminism
Chapter 3: The 1970s: A State of Upheaval
Chapter 4: The 1980s: The War on Women
Chapter 5: The 1990s: Fin de Siècle
Chapter 6: The New Millennium
The book was very interesting, and I learned more about Irish women writers. There is information on Maria Edgeworth, Mary Mean, Alice Nolan, Mary Ann Madden, Katherine E. Conway, Louise Imogen Guiney, Nellie Bly, Alice McDermott, Mary McCarthy, Joyce Carol Oates, Tess Gallagher, Eileen Myles, Maureen Howard, Elizabeth Cullinan, Kathleen Hill, Lisa Carey, Jacqueline Carey, Barbara Friedan, Maeve Brennan, Mary Gordon, Elizabeth Savage, Blanche McCrary Boyd, Susan Faludi, Barbara Finlay.
The book wasn’t what I thought it would be. It was a difficult read for me. I thought I would learn more about the women themselves but instead, I learned more about their writings. The author does a very thorough job researching the women and their work. The information is presented in a textbook style. I would recommend this book if you enjoy Irish women writers.
