The Wounded Cormorant and Other Stories

The Wounded Cormorant and Other Stories, Liam O'Flaherty, W.W. Norton and Company, 1973

Rural Ireland in the earlier part of the 20th Century is the setting for this group of very short stories.

A goose is born, and because it doesn't develop like a normal goose; its keeper, an old woman, and the rest of the village think that it is some sort of fairy goose, gifted with supernatural powers. This goes on until the village priest does something about it. Getting a fishing canoe back to land becomes a race against time with a major storm on the way. A brother and sister are emigrating to America in the morning, but tonight the village, and their parents, try to put a brave face on it. A cow gives birth, and needs a little extra encouragement to take care of the calf. Another story looks at the effect of the Irish Civil War on the people caught in the middle.

This is a fine group of stories told with real style and grace, with the reader feeling like they are in the story. My only complaint is that some of these stories feel like vignettes, or parts of stories, rather than complete stories. Other than that, this is a very good example of Irish literature.