Brian Moore and the Meaning of the Past: An Irish Novelist Re-Imagines History

Critics of the Irish novelist, Brian Moore (1921-1999), have largely concentrated upon his use of faith and realism; although such examinations have illuminated his novels in intriguing and useful ways, much has been neglected by viewing his work solely from these perspectives. The sheer variety of Moore s work discourages a single viewpoint because his oeuvre refuses classification, be that through narrative mode, his use of religion, or his varied use of setting. The approach of this book, which is the first of its kind, examines how history influences Moore s texts as well as how it codifies his individual characters. By the end of his career, Brian Moore was rewriting history in order to create new narratives that explored colonialism, identity, religion, and the intersection between differing interpretations of the past. In all of these cases, a careful examination of history opens up the texts to new readings. This critical analysis examines Brian Moore as a writer who was heavily invested in the representation and the meaning of the past.