Out of the Earth: Ecocritical Readings of Irish Texts [Hardcover]

Long before there was a theoretical movement that gave a name to literary readings of nature, scholars have understood the importance of the natural world to an Irish cultural sensibility. An emphasis on place not only pervades Irish writing but also is in fact rooted in ancient traditions of Celtic mythology and place-lore.

While critical assessments of Irish place writing are numerous, few of them address such representations of the natural world as politically and culturally informed and scripted texts. The essays offer ecocritical readings of Irish literary and cultural texts of various genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama and the visual image. Ireland is uniquely situated in lore and landscape, and this book will inspire literary critics of other nations and regions to rethink their texts through the lens of nature in all its forms. Required reading for students of Irish studies. Summing Up: Highly Recommended.