Is There a 'New' Kate O'Brien? Holy Cross Professor Explains

Kate O'Brien was a provocative and, even in some places, banned Irish novelist and playwright, but first a foremost, she was a feminist determined to encourage a greater understanding of sexual diversity.

In an article for The Irish Times, Paige Reynolds, professor of English at the College of the Holy Cross, discusses a special issue of the Irish University Review journal focusing on the 'new' Kate O'Brien, of which Reynolds was the guest editor. The issue analyzes O'Brien's work via new approaches, from using the lens of late modernism, to considering new archival materials.

Reynolds also encourages readers to read, study and teach the works of O'Brien. She goes on to say, "We need to read Kate O’Brien not only for a fuller appreciation of modern literature and a greater understanding of 20th-century Ireland, but also for her insights into powerful institutions and pernicious ideologies that seek to repress freedom."

To read the full article, go to IrishTimes.com.