'An Asylum for My Affections'

On the occasion of her mothers birthday, the Irish writer Maeve Brennan wrote a letter to William Maxwell describing the emotional landscape provided by her mother. She wrote: She gave me an asylum for my affections and I learned that my affections so far exceeded her ability to understand me that she came near to drowning. With essays by a selection of Irelands best writers, this anthology considers the dual meanings of the word asylum: as institution or site of incarceration and as refuge or shelter. Essays that explore cityscapes, loneliness, the emotional impact of history, diasporic transience, girlhood, family connections to Brennan and more create space for a broader engagement with Brennans life and the ongoing impact of her work. Contributors include: Darran Anderson Niamh Campbell Mary Cregan Roddy Doyle Arnold Thomas Fanning Molly Hennigan Belinda McKeon ils N Dhuibhne Kate Phelan Jess Traynor