This book offers the first comprehensive discussion of the relationship between Modern Irish
Literature and the Irish cinema with twelve chapters written by experts in the field that deal
with principal films authors and directors. This survey outlines the influence of screen
adaptation of important texts from the national literature on the construction of an Irish
cinema many of whose films because of cultural constraints were produced and exhibited outside
the country until very recently. Authors discussed include George Bernard Shaw Oscar Wilde
Liam O'Flaherty Christy Brown Edna O'Brien James Joyce and Brian Friel. The films analysed
in this volume include THE QUIET MAN THE INFORMER MAJOR BARBARA THE GIRL WITH GREEN EYES MY
LEFT FOOT THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY THE SNAPPER and DANCING AT LUGHNASA. The introduction
features a detailed discussion of the cultural and political questions raised by the promotion
of forms of national identity by Ireland's literary and cinematic establishments.
