A complete literary history of the American Irish during the first part of the twentieth century.

"Private Histories" is a complete literary history of the American Irish during the first part of the twentieth century. Ron Ebest offers a fresh perspective on familiar novelists, dramatists, and poets, introduces readers to a number of important writers who are often overlooked, and reveals rarely considered aspects of Irish-American social history. Ebest analyzes themes of particular importance to early twentieth-century Irish Americans - such as religion, marriage, family, economic hardship, social status, and education - in the writings of well-known authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald...

In this collection of essays, 22 writers, historians, theologians and feminists thoughtfully reflect on their own personal experiences with the Catholic Church. The essayists describe how they have, or in some cases have not, come to terms with a church that does not permit them full participation. In so doing, they offer practical suggestions for ways in which the Church can become more open to the concerns of its progressive members. Radford Ruether, who provides a brief history of 20th-century reform movements; internationally-known journalist Mary Kenny, who writes on the abortion debate...

In this collection of essays, 22 writers, historians, theologians and feminists thoughtfully reflect on their own personal experiences with the Catholic Church. The essayists describe how they have, or in some cases have not, come to terms with a church that does not permit them full participation. In so doing, they offer practical suggestions for ways in which the Church can become more open to the concerns of its progressive members. Radford Ruether, who provides a brief history of 20th-century reform movements; internationally-known journalist Mary Kenny, who writes on the abortion debate...