Antarktida – Keeganová Claire (2025)

The first collection of short stories by the now-established Irish writer Claire Keegan was published in its original form in 1999 and is captivating due to the combination of lyrical style and the harsh reality it depicts. Its impact is enhanced by unexpected twists in the stories, hints that send chills down the spine, and the bare truth conveyed through a minimum of precise and concise sentences. The author's handwriting, with a clear vision, sharply examines a world where dreams, memories, and chance have fatal consequences for all involved.

The narratives are often heavy, and the reader feels their dense atmosphere, as well as the reality that something fateful is always happening beneath the surface of these carefully crafted stories. In each story of her debut, Claire Keegan explores the relationships between men and women, family ties, and hidden or open cruelty and violence. She will return to these themes in her future work.

Antarctica has garnered global attention from readers and critics alike, and according to The Observer, it offers 'some of the best contemporary short stories written in English.' The author was awarded the prestigious Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2000 for this collection.