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CELEBRATED IRISH AUTHOR Edna O’Brien has been appointed a Dame of the British Empire for her services to literature.
O’Brien, a prolific novelist, playwright, poet and short story writer from Co Clare, has won numerous awards for her writing, including the European Prize for Literature and the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
O’Brien described the latest honour as “very gratifying.”
It unites me in some etheric way to readers I don’t know and is an incentive, at 88, to keep going.
Today, she was made Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – the second-highest rank in Britain’s honour system. The honour is awarded to those who have made contributions to the arts and scientists or contributed to charitable organisations.
Stephen Page, the CEO of O’Brien’s publisher, Faber & Faber, said that O’Brien’s “international reputation and readerships stand as a testament to her importance and originality.”
O’Brien, now 88, has lived in London since the 1950s. However, as an Irish citizen, her title will be an honorary one.
Her debut novel, The Country Girls, was published in 1962, and won the Kingsley Amis Award. It tells the story of a young woman navigating a repressive Irish society after World War II. The book was banned by the Irish censor and a few burned at the request of a Limerick parish priest.
O’Brien has continued to court controversial topics, with her 1994 book House of Splendid Isolation focused on a terrorist who goes on the run and Down by the River, published in 1996, telling the story of an underage rape victim who sought an abortion in England.
Her memoir, County Girl, was published in 2012.
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The instinct for survival is astonishing.
God doesnt cause earthquakes Einstein.
Its called a Natural Disaster
Einstein didnt believe in God
Bear Grylls will be proud.
It’s full of protein.
hopefully not the only survivor, well done to those involved with saving him!
Guess god is not available right now. But you will be sure his reps will be!
On the piss.
Hopefully in this case it is a case of not able to reach communication. Devastating event. One thing I have noted is the different countries all working together to help the people. Long may of continue. I wonder will Daly and Wallace be protesting at the 2 US Boeing C-17 aircraft sent over to help in the effort if they refuel at Shannon?
@John Reese. Well said John. Also the Israelis have set up a field hospital operational to-day and treating 200.+patients per day. 130 medical team in a 230 group rescue group sent over.
_“The field hospital will deal with various types of medical issues that come up, including a surgical department, obstetrics, a laboratory for blood samples, and other emerging medical issues,” said Weiss. “We also have an eye doctor and other types of specialists.”
There will be 60 beds and the capacity to treat at least 200 people per day.”
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@John Reese. Well said John. Also the Israelis have set up a field hospital operational to-day and treating 200.+patients per day. 130 medical team in a 230 group rescue group sent over.
_“The field hospital will deal with various types of medical issues that come up, including a surgical department, obstetrics, a laboratory for blood samples, and other emerging medical issues,” said Weiss. “We also have an eye doctor and other types of specialists.”
There will be 60 beds and the capacity to treat at least 200 people per day.”
@John Reese. Well said.
Guess God wasn’t available .
Leave my father alone!
have your say