“The bloody stars were all far away, and I was somehow very small and very lonely. And anything that ever happened to me after I never felt the same about again.”
—Frank O’Connor, “Guests of the Nation”
The short story form has been tackled by some of the greatest writers in literature, from as old as Homer to as recent as Haruki Murakami. As the genre continues to evolve, we are revisiting one of the masters of short fiction, whose works continue to influence and inspire: Frank O’Connor. Born in Cork, Ireland, in 1903, O’Connor had a difficult relationship with his family in his early life—an adoring devotion to his mother constantly working in opposition with his bitter apathy toward his drunken father. At the age of 15, he joined the Irish Republican Army and fought in the Irish War of Independence. In 1922, he was imprisoned by the government of the Irish Free State while working in a propaganda unit as a member of the Anti-Treaty IRA.
After his release, he became immersed in the literary scene and built his reputation on being a prolific short story writer. His short stories encapsulated the Irish way of life over the years, and his ability to tell profound and intimate stories earned him great acclaim. He became known as Ireland’s Anton Chekhov and was admired alongside fellow literary greats James Joyce and W. B. Yeats. He also produced respected work in a variety of fields, including literary criticism, translation, and poetry. At Open Road, we are proud to release four titles from this master storyteller.
{buybutton id=16083/}Collected Storiesis the definitive anthology of O’Connor’s short fiction, from “Guests of the Nation” to “My Oedipus Complex,” these tales of Ireland have touched generations of readers the world over and confirmed O’Connor’s reputation as one of the greatest Irish authors.
{buybutton id=16084/}In the rituals and contradictions of the priesthood, Frank O’Connor found one of his greatest motifs. The Collar showcases an artist at the peak of his powers and shines a brilliant light on a fascinating world too often hidden in shadow and sentiment.
{buybutton id=16086/}The Midnight Court and Other Poems has now taken its rightful place in the Irish literary canon, but when O’Connor’s English translation was first published in 1945, the Irish government banned it as obscene. Here, as it first appeared, is Frank O’Connor’s faithful, funny, and eloquent translation of one of the most important works in Irish literature.
{buybutton id=16085/}An Only Child and My Father’s Son is Frank O’Connor’s acclaimed autobiography, now in one volume. As richly detailed and eloquent as the best of his short fiction, Frank O’Connor’s autobiography is an entertaining portrait of a fascinating time and place, and the inspiring account of a young artist finding his voice.
With a career spanning over 40 years, O’Connor continues to inspire the literary world, with the richest short story prize named in his honor—the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. To learn more about Frank O’Connor and his works, visit his author page here.