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Irish literature has an incredible history, and many famous writers from Ireland have helped to push new creative concepts. Take a look at Irish literature by exploring the writers listed below. You should find many amazing writers to check out if you’ve never had the pleasure of reading their works before. 

Lady Sydney Morgan

Lady Sydney Morgan was a novelist, and many consider her to be the first feminist writer in Ireland. One of her most famous pieces was 1840s Woman and Her Master. This was a novel that looked at the mistreatment of women at the hands of men throughout history. She was a very successful novelist at a time when female independence was not very common. 

Maria Edgeworth

Maria Edgeworth wrote stories that depicted domestic life in rural Ireland. She was originally born in England, but she moved to Ireland as a child with her father. Edgeworth had a significant impact on the writing world, and she is even credited with influencing the works of Jane Austen. 

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift is credited as being the inventor of Irish fiction that is written in English. His most famous tale is Gulliver’s Travels, and many people have fallen in love with his style over the years. His fictional works made him one of the most beloved Irish writers of all-time. Swift was also known for penning pamphlets about Irish independence during his life.  

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is known as a writer who was incredibly witty. He also happens to be one of the most quoted Irish authors in history. Wilde wrote many comedic plays that earned him notoriety. The only novel that he ever wrote, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is the first novel to depict an obviously homosexual character.  

WB Yeats

WB Yeats was a symbolist poet, and he has the distinction of winning Ireland’s first Nobel Laureate. He is considered to be among the greatest poets of his generation. Yeats also produced many different plays during his life. 

James Joyce

James Joyce is well-known for authoring Ulysses in 1922. Joyce wrote about his home city of Dublin and made it his mission to tell the world about it. Many people consider Joyce to be among the greatest and most important writers in history.