“Classic Irish Short Stories: Volume 1” is a collection of short stories that were either written by Irish writers or inspired by Irish life. It was narrated by T.P. McKenna. The Irish are known for their rich storytelling, and this collection focuses on authors who are particularly skilled at crafting short stories.
The collection of short stories features the following
stories and more: “The Brown Man” by Gerald Griffin; “Araby” by James Joyce; “The
Model Millionaire” by Oscar Wilde; “Adventures of a Strolling Player” by Oliver
Goldsmith; and “Rosanna” by Agnes Castle.
The Irish have a rich history of oral storytelling, which is
how many of their stories throughout history have been passed down through
generations. The audiobook version of this collection really hones in on that,
thanks to the narrator’s style as well as the stories themselves.
While some it was easy to zone out while listening to some
of the stories through the audiobook, a few were a bit more engaging. At times,
it felt like the narrator was one with the stories of the collection. It was as
if listeners were sitting with him at a pub, listening to him tell stories of
his life experiences. This was in part due to the nature of the stories, but
also the style of the narrator and the storytelling history of the Irish.
There is a wide variety of stories featured in this
collection. Not every story will be loved by every reader, but there is surely
something in there that resonates with each person. Things will resonate with
each person differently, and the book has a variety of stories to read.
One story that stood out on a personal level was the story
about the Catholic and Protestant falling in love. The title may have been
forgotten (it is likely mentioned in the collection, including the audiobook), but
the story sticks out. This is a common trope throughout Irish music and
storytelling of all kinds.
Overall, this book is a great collection of Irish short
stories. It demonstrates the skill and vastness of Irish literature and
storytelling. It is no surprise that the Irish are considered to be amongst the
most literate people in the world.