Brian Friel's (post) colonial drama: language, illusion, and politics

Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Chronology -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Friel and the Irish art of lying -- 3. Enabling fictions: The short stories -- 4. Apprenticeship: The loves of Cass McGuire and the early plays -- 5. The end of innocence: The freedom of the city and volunteers -- 6. Family matters: Living quarters and aristocrats -- 7. Postmodern memory: Faith Healer -- 8. (De)mythology: Translations. the communication cord, and field day -- 9. Making history -- 10. Dionysus in ballybeg: Dancing at Lughnasa -- 11. Blindsight: Molly Sweeney -- 12. Conclusion, resistance and reconsideration -- Texts cited -- Index.