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Liam O’Flaherty was born on August 28, 1896, in County Galway, Ireland. A prolific novelist and short story writer, he played a significant role in the Irish Literary Revival. Torn between impulses to study philosophy and religion and to contribute to the early Irish efforts to achieve independence from British rule, he chose to become a writer rather than train as a priest. But before he got into writing, he served as a soldier in World War I, suffering shell shock that caused intermittent psychological issues for many years. He returned home for a brief time but then traveled through the Middle East, South America, Canada, and the United States, working as a miner, a dishwasher, and a bank clerk, among other professions.
A socialist, O’Flaherty participated in revolutionary activities in Ireland before moving in 1922 to England, where he began to write. The publication of “The Sniper” in 1923 in a small weekly socialist newspaper, The New Leader, launched his writing career. The story attracted the attention of influential publisher Edward Garnett, who convinced a publisher to print O’Flaherty’s first novel when it was ready. O’Flaherty returned to Ireland and wrote his first book, The Informer, in 1925. The novel, about a friend’s betrayal, was later adapted twice as a film. Among his many novels is The Black Soul, a work about a troubled former soldier who tries to find peace on a remote island. His novel Skerrett is about a struggle between a teacher and a priest. The novel Famine is the story of how the Irish famine of the 1840s affected a small community of people.
O’Flaherty’s works included novels, short stories, political satire, and an autobiography. His stories have appeared in many magazines and journals. His life’s work persistently chronicles the bravery and tenacity of the Irish people. He died on September 7, 1984, in Dublin.
