After nearly five decades as one of Irelands most celebrated playwrightsBrian Friel has been the subject of ten books and dozens of articles. Thisstudy expands ... » 

After nearly five decades as one of Irelands most celebrated playwrightsBrian Friel has been the subject of ten books and dozens of articles. Thisstudy expands Friel criticism into a sizeable body of new material and into anew interpretative direction. Along with considering Friels most recent playsthe book analyzes his interviews and essays to chart the authors ideologicalevolution throughout a career of more than forty years. Moreover a chapter isdevoted to his previously ignored articles for The Irish Press 19621963 aseries that reveals unsuspected insights into Friels disposition towards theIrish Republic. Refining our understanding of Friels relationship toRepublicanism is central to the argument rather than assuming that the authorembraces nationalist ideology the book relocates the conceptual concerns ofhis work away from Dublin and to The North this bridge between Ireland andthe British province of Northern Ireland. «