The Diary of Mary Travers
2016 Longlist

The Diary of Mary Travers

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

It is April 1895 and Oscar Wilde is on trial in London at the Old Bailey, following his libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry, and faces ruin, public disgrace and imprisonment. In County Cork, a woman called Mary Travers is following the Wilde Trials in the newspapers, increasingly troubled by the growing public outcry. Mary Travers has her own secret, her hidden connection with Oscar Wilde and his parents, William and Jane, and dreads discovery and exposure. Unknown to those around her, in 1864, as a young woman, she had been the key figure in a notorious court case in Dublin, in which she sued Jane Wilde for libel, and the resulting scandal filled the newspapers for weeks. In this new novel, The Diary of Mary Travers, this controversial case is re-imagined for the first time through the eyes of the central figure, Mary Travers, and in her diary she reveals her own part in this scandal, her unhappy home life and her intimate connection with two of the most celebrated writers of her time, William and Jane Wilde.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Eibhear
Walshe

Eibhear Walshe was born in Waterford, studied in Dublin, and now lives in Cork, where he lectures in the School of English at University College Cork. He has published in the area of memoir, literary criticism and biography, and his books include Kate O’Brien: A Writing Life, Oscar’s Shadow : Wilde and Ireland, and A Different Story: The Writings of Colm Tóibín. His childhood memoir, Cissie’s Abattoir was broadcast on RTE’s Book on One.

Eibhear Walshe was born in Waterford, studied in Dublin, and now lives in Cork, where he lectures in the School of English at University College Cork. He has published in the area of memoir, literary criticism and biography, and his books include Kate O’Brien: A Writing Life, Oscar’s Shadow : Wilde and Ireland, and A Different Story: The Writings of Colm Tóibín. His childhood memoir, Cissie’s Abattoir was broadcast on RTE’s Book on One.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find any translators matching your search. Please try using different keywords or check back later as we regularly update our collection.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

The Diary of Mary Travers gives us what we want in historical fiction – information and entertainment in a fascinating and beautifully crafted story of human and historical interest.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
26/06/2014
Publisher
Somerville Press

RELATED FEATURES

News January 15 2025

2025 Longlist Revealed

Novels by seven Irish authors are among the 71 books nominated by 83 libraries around the world!
News November 19 2024

2025 Dublin Literary Award Judges Announced

Meet our judging panel for 2025 Dublin Literary Award
Video November 1 2024

2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony announcement live-streamed from the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Audio June 11 2024

All About Books Podcast Features the 2024 Dublin Literary Award

Dublin City FM podcaster Katy Conneely spotlights the award.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.