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28th July 2024
06:49pm BST
Irish writer Edna O'Brien has sadly died from a long illness.
The 93-year-old has been remembered as one of "the greatest writers of our age".
News of her passing was confirmed by her publisher Faber Books this evening.
They stated, "It is with great sadness that Caroline Michel at PFD and Faber announce the death of beloved author Edna O’Brien.
"She died peacefully on Saturday 27 July after a long illness. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, in particular her sons Marcus and Carlo.
"The family has requested privacy at this time.
"Edna O’Brien was one of the greatest writers of our age. She revolutionised Irish literature, capturing the lives of women and the complexities of the human condition in prose that was luminous and spare, and which had a profound influence on so many writers who followed her.
RIP Edna O Brien. A brave Irish woman who stood up to the church and the State, paving the way for many strong Irish women to do likewise without fear of ostracism. #StrongIrishWomen pic.twitter.com/fCFJ5zLcMW
— Seán Ó Foghlú 💚 (@paddyhibernian) July 28, 2024
"A defiant and courageous spirit, Edna constantly strove to break new artistic ground, to write truthfully, from a place of deep feeling. The vitality of her prose was a mirror of her zest for life: she was the very best company, kind, generous, mischievous, brave.
"Edna was a dear friend to us all, and we will miss her dreadfully. It is Faber’s huge privilege to publish her, and her bold and brilliant body of work lives on."
President Michael D. Higgins led tributes and remembered the writer as "a fearless teller of truths".
He said, "Through that deeply insightful work, rich in humanity, Edna O'Brien was one of the first writers to provide a true voice to the experiences of women in Ireland in their different generations and played an important role in transforming the status of women across Irish society."
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