Great Irish Authors

Gr 8 Up—This engaging documentary canvasses the renowned masters of the Irish literary tradition in a brief, but edifying format. There are three segments—"The Classics," "Early 20th Century Authors," and "The New Wave"—with individual tracks for each author. From St. Patrick to Seamus Heaney, all the greats are here, including Jonathan Swift, W.B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and James Joyce. Each segment is introduced by William Ambrose and includes concise biographical information, a run through of each author's significant works, and a brief analysis of the author's place within the Irish canon. The video also contains a range of supplemental materials including an educator's guide, a time line, a reading list, and a bibliography for further research. While some chapters are much too brief, the film could easily be integrated into middle and high school world literature curriculums.—Brian Odom Birmingham, AL