This dazzling anthology, edited and introduced by Dermot Bolger, is a splendidly comprehensive and up-to-the-minute collection of the finest recent fiction from a nation of master storytellers. This collection of astonishing breadth reveals a literature of genuine global stature, as ancient as the Irish Sea. Contributors and stories include: John Banville, from Mefisto ; Leland Bardwell, "The Hairdresser"; Sebastian Barry, from The Engine of Owl-Light ; Mary Beckett, "Heaven"; Samuel Beckett, "For to End Yet Again"; Sara Berkeley, "The Sky's Gone Out"; Dermot Bolger, "The Journey Home"; Claire Boylan, "Villa Marta"; Shane Connaughton, "Ojus"; Mary Dorcey, "The Husband"; Roddy Doyle, from The Snapper ; Anne Enright, "Men and Angels"; Hugo Hamilton, from Surrogate City ; Dermot Healy, "The Death of Matti Bonner"; Aidan Higgins, from Balcony of Europe ; Desmond Hogan, from A Curious Street ; Jennifer Johnston, from The Christmas Tree ; Neil Jordan, "Last Rights"; Molly Kean, Patrick McCabe, from The Butcher Boy ; Brian Moore, "The Sight"; Edna O'Brien, "What a Sky"; William Trevor, "The Ballroom of Romance"; Val Mulkerns, "Memory and Desire"; Robert McLiam Wilson, from Ripley Bogle , and many more. An extraordinary collection of late 20th century fiction by 50 great Irish authors. Wide-ranging and highly readable...comes as close as possible to capturing the scope and vitality of Irish literature today. -- Publisher's Weekly This dazzling anthology, edited and introduced by Dermot Bolger, is a splendidly comprehensive and up-to-the-minute collection of the finest recent fiction from a nation of master storytellers. This collection of astonishing breadth reveals a literature of genuine global stature, as ancient as the Irish Sea. Contributors and stories include: John Banville, from "Mefisto; Leland Bardwell, "The Hairdresser"; Sebastian Barry, from "The Engine of Owl-Light; Mary Beckett, "Heaven"; Samuel Beckett, "For to End Yet Again"; Sara Berkeley, "The Sky's Gone Out"; Dermot Bolger, "The Journey Home"; Claire Boylan, "Villa Marta"; Shane Connaughton, "Ojus"; Mary Dorcey, "The Husband"; Roddy Doyle, from "The Snapper; Anne Enright, "Men and Angels"; Hugo Hamilton, from "Surrogate City; Dermot Healy, "The Death of Matti Bonner"; Aidan Higgins, from "Balcony of Europe; Desmond Hogan, from "A Curious Street; Jennifer Johnston, from "The Christmas Tree; Neil Jordan, "Last Rights"; Molly Kean, Patrick McCabe, from "The Butcher Boy; Brian Moore, "The Sight"; Edna O'Brien, "What a Sky"; William Trevor, "The Ballroom of Romance"; Val Mulkerns, "Memory and Desire"; Robert McLiam Wilson, from "Ripley Bogle, and many more. This dazzling anthology, edited and introduced by Dermot Bolger, is a splendidly comprehensive and up-to-the-minute collection of the finest recent fiction from a nation of master storytellers. Here are Irishmen and Irishwomen at home and abroad, growing up and growing old, living in pastoral villages or at loose in London and New York. Here, in short, is a collection of astonishing breadth that reveals a literature of genuinely global stature, as ancient as the Irish Sea and as up-to-the-minute as a newsflash. Dermot Bolger  is a renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist with over 45 works to his name. In his writing, he concerns himself with the Irish middle class and the struggles many face trying to understand the relevance of traditional national identity. Bolger’s characters often mirror his desire for a more inclusive society. His plays have earned him a number of awards, including the Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award for Best Debut Play, an Edinburgh Festival Scotsman Fringe First Award, and the Irish Times /ESB Prize for Best New Irish Play in 2004. Dermot Bolger, ed., The Vintage Book of Contemporary Irish Fiction, paperback