Edna O’Brien, a renowned author who passed away aged 93, was often described with one word that encapsulates her legacy best: courage. Spanning an inspiring seven-decade-long writing journey, O’Brien steadfastly refused to let societal norms and expectations define or inhibit her world perceptions. Her audacious commitment to personal self-expression and artistic freedom was awe-inspiring.
In the mid-20th century, O’Brien, being a bold and determined young woman artist, represented a stark contradiction to the Irish essentially conservative mindset, braving the reproach from both the government and the church. Her bold novel, The Country Girls, was a provocative exploration of feminine sexuality presented with an intelligent and humorous narrative of two girls transitioning from their rural life in County Clare to adulthood in Dublin. Predictably, this book, along with others that followed, faced banning and disapproval. However, such disapproval helped her gain global recognition and she became a symbol of true Irishness for many.
Gratitude must be given to O’Brien’s efforts which surely helped diminish the stifling conservatism, narrow mindset and degrading sexism persistent in Ireland. Despite this, O’Brien’s identity wasn’t only as a radical advocate for societal progress; she was, first and foremost, a devoted artist who never shied away from difficult or controversial subject matters. Her later works dealt with challenging themes like murder, terrorism and rape. At the advanced age of 80s, she ventured to Nigeria for research for her last novel, Girl, that dealt with the harrowing subject of Boko Haram’s girl abduction.
With a lengthy and evergreen writing tenure, O’Brien had the unique opportunity to observe, absorb and write about a myriad of worlds spanning between her first ever publication and the last, shedding light on significant societal transformations. Her legacy thus is dual-faceted – her vibrant, honest and beautiful literature, and the inspiring account of an audacious life lived without restraint nor fear.