Irish Stories :

The Irish Stories of John B. Keane gathers together the wonderful short stories of this prolific Irish storyteller who distills the world of the rural Irish better than anyone else writing today. It includes such gems as "A Hanging," a tale of accusation by silence in a small village that shows both the comic & tragic effects of small-town gossip; "Guaranteed Pure," which concerns the innocence of bachelor William Ramley who is seeking an unsullied Irish bride; & the charming "Under the Sycamore Tree," in which Jimmy Bowen's lifelong dream is realized. "Faith" & "Fred Rimble" will delight the reader with their amusing tragi-comic humor; while "The Reek" shows Keane's great love of the countryside & respect for the vital customs of country folk, the recording of which is no less important, he feels, than international events taking place on the world's stage. "Death Be Not Proud" & "The Fort Field" capture the importance of the land in the Irish psyche, while "Thrift" uncovers the darker side of human nature when obsession for material gain overrides even filial love.