Some Bad Women in Clare Boylan's That Bad Woman. An essay on translation

Abstract

The present dissertation is focused on the work of Clare Boylan (Dublin, 1948 - 2006). Journalist, editor, novelist and short story writer, Clare Boylan is one of the most brilliant and witty voices of contemporary Irish literature. The work provides a facing-page translation of five selected short stories —The Stolen Child; Edna Back from America; It’s Her; A Funny Thing Happened; Gods and Slaves — belonging to That Bad Woman collection, first published for Little, Brown in 1995. Each story is introduced by a commentary investigating Boylan’s writing with a particular reference to the perception of woman in Irish society, her familial relationships, her individual, psychological and social struggles seen through the witty and sympathetic author’s eye. Furthermore, an introduction on author’s biography is provided, together with a dissertation on her role in the renewed contemporary scenario of Irish literature. In particular the work of Boylan is contextualized among the blooming current of Irish Woman Storytellers exploiting the narrative form of modern short story as the most powerful expression of their voices.