50th Anniversary Of Ban On Edna O’Brien Book

Arts and Entertainment - Books

Monday, 07 June 2010 08:50

Written by Denise Lyons

Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of a ban being placed on County Clare author, short-story writer and critic Edna O’Brien’s debut novel.

‘The Country Girls’ was the first part of a trilogy of novels, later collected as The Country Girls Trilogy, which also included ‘The Lonely Girl’ (1962) and ‘Girls in Their Married Bliss’ (1964). The books were criticised for their graphic sexual content and frank treatment of women's attitudes toward sexuality.

Following the banning of her first book O'Brien moved to London to escape what she perceived as the oppressiveness of Irish culture. However, the book received critical acclaim outside Ireland with The New York Times Book Review hailing it as "Powerful. Intelligent. Ironic. A treasure."

In 2009, O’Brien was honoured with a special lifetime achievement award - the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award - at a special ceremony for the year’s Irish Book Awards in Dublin.  The Tuamgraney native also appeared at the Ennis Book Club Festival two years ago.