Kate O'Brien and Spanish Literary Culture

One of the most important Irish novelists of the twentieth century, Kate OBrien (18971974) was also a pioneer of womens writing. In a career that spanned almost fifty years, nine novels, nine plays, two travelogues, and copious criticism, OBrien rebelled against the narrow nationalism and restrictive Catholicism prevalent in independent Ireland. In this highly original approach to OBriens work, Davison traces the influence of three leading Spanish writersJacinto Benavente, Miguel de Cervantes, and Teresa of Avila. OBriens lifelong fascination with Spanish literature and culture offered an oblique way of resisting the Catholic and conservative imperatives of the Irish Free State. In a series of close comparative readings, Davison identifies the origin of OBriens creative disinhibition and ultimately situates her within a tradition of dissident Irish women writers.