O'Brien was best known for challenging literary taboos, especially with her candid depictions of the lives of Irish women in full revolt against the oppression of Ireland's traditional values, especially those of the Catholic Church.
Her writing career began with the banned novel The Country Girls, a story mirroring her own experiences, becoming an international bestseller, laying the foundation for a prolific career spanning over 20 novels.
O'Brien's work delved into themes of young women facing distress and thwarted desires, often confronting provocative subjects like the seduction of a young girl by a priest, while tackling contemporary political issues beyond Ireland's Church-state relationship.
Over her six-decade career, O'Brien's writing evolved to explore a variety of societal challenges with a special focus on the struggles and triumphs of Irish women, ultimately cementing her status as a pioneering literary figure.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]