Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all these countries have specific dialects, cultures, and histories that are reflected in their literature. This type of novel is known as regional fiction. Regional fiction writers and poets have used literature for centuries to reflect on and to analyse their homelands.
Meaning of regional fiction
Regional fiction is a popular genre of literature in the UK, but what is it?
Regional fiction - Literature that focuses on a specific area or region.
Regional fiction exists in every country and reflects the culture of specific areas in a place. Some of the most famous pieces of literature are works of regional fiction! For example, To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee centres around the south of the USA.
The genre originated in Ireland in the 19th century, following the publication of Maria Edgeworth's novel, Castle Rackrent (1800). Regional fiction quickly gained popularity in Ireland and Scotland. Following this, it expanded again into England, Wales, and then the rest of the world.
Characteristics of regional fiction
Pieces of regional fiction are defined by three key factors: plot, themes, and setting.
Plot
There is a common misconception that there is no plot in a regional fiction work. However, that is not always the case. Regional fiction plots may centre around a clash of ideologies or beliefs in the region. The plot in regional fiction texts will feature the community of the area and its culture. The action of the plot will be dependent on the characters, and the time frame the text is set in.
Brian Friel's play Translations (1980) is a famous piece of Irish regional fiction. The plot of the play follows the lives of residents of the town Baile Beag in Donegal, Ireland. The plot discusses themes of colonisation, language, and identity in the context of 19th-century Ireland.
Themes
At the heart of a lot of regional fiction is the theme of community. Many of these pieces of literature tell stories about how regional communities function and how they face change. Sometimes, the flaws and quirks of these communities are highlighted by the introduction of an outsider who is from outside the region. In more contemporary literature, regional fiction has often been used to discuss themes regarding marginalised groups in the areas. This can include themes of race, gender, sexuality, or class.
A notable example of this is Andrew O'Hagan's Mayflies (2020), which takes place in 1980s Manchester. The novel discusses themes of masculinity and class in the North West region of England.
Setting
The most defining characteristic of regional fiction is its setting! Here the text's setting defines what themes and characters the piece may explore. This is because regional fiction is primarily used to discuss the issues, quirks, and characteristics of a specific region. The setting in these novels can vary, from the upper class in rural Ireland to miners in a Welsh village.
An example of a regional fiction text that effectively uses setting is Irvine Welsh's novel Trainspotting (1993). The novel follows heroin addicts in Edinburgh and effectively uses this setting to further discuss themes of addiction, nationality, and masculinity in Scotland.
Types of regional fiction
Four examples of regional fiction come from the regions of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Irish regional fiction
Irish regional fiction is one of the oldest types of regional fiction. The genre originated in Ireland in the novel Castle Rackrent (1800) by Maria Edgeworth. Irish regional fiction commonly discusses themes of religion, gender, and colonisation. These novels are frequently used to explore controversial topics in Ireland, such as the role of the Catholic Church in society. Irish regional fiction often employs a humorous tone around these subjects, using techniques such as irony or satire.
Irony occurs when you say the opposite of what you mean with the intention to achieve a humorous effect.
Satire is when irony and exaggeration are used to make fun of and to expose people's vices or the issues in society.
The Dead School (1995) by Patrick McCabe
McCabe's 1995 novel follows the lives of two men in small-town Ireland. The novel depicts how the strict cultural rules of Irish society lead to the downfall of the two men. This piece of Irish regional fiction discusses themes of masculinity, education, and mental illness.
Northern Irish regional fiction
Established in 1921, Northern Ireland is a region that finds itself in the unique position of belonging to both the UK and Ireland. The country experienced a 30-year-long period of conflict from 1968 to 1998 known as The Troubles. This conflict was between the Unionist community (who were predominately Protestant and believed the country belonged with the UK) and the Nationalist community (who were predominantly Catholic and believed in a united Ireland). Northern Irish regional fiction typically centres around this period. Much of this literature discusses themes of identity, nationality, war, and class.
The Kevin and Sadie series (1970-1976) by Joan Lingard
Lingard's book series is perhaps one of the first pieces of 'Troubles Literature' produced in Northern Ireland. The novels follow a love story between a Protestant woman and a Catholic man early in the Troubles. This piece of Northern Irish regional fiction discusses themes of love, war, and identity.
Scottish regional fiction
One of the most popular types of regional fiction comes from Scotland. Scotland experienced a surge of regional fiction being produced during the early twentieth century. This movement was known as the Scottish Renaissance. Since this movement, Scottish literature has continued to gain popularity. Many pieces of Scottish regional fiction discuss themes of independence, nationality, class, and gender.
Lanark: A Life in Four Books (1981) by Alasdair Gray
Gray's first novel is widely acclaimed as one of the best pieces of Scottish regional fiction. The novel is set in the city of Glasgow and uses realist and surrealist descriptions to depict the city. This regional novel discusses themes of ageing, death, and nationality in Scotland.
Realism and realist descriptions aim to show life as it is in reality. As a movement in literature and art, Realism began in Russia and France in the 19th century,
Surrealism and surrealist descriptions seek to reveal the illogical and the unconscious in our existence. Surrealism was a 20th century movement that started in France after World War I.
Welsh regional fiction
Welsh regional fiction is a wide genre comprised of novels that are written in both English and Welsh. These are two separate styles of writing and should be viewed as such. Welsh regional fiction often discusses the dynamics of class in the country. This theme was especially popular in the wake of the miners' strikes of the 1980s. Other key themes in Welsh regional fiction include nationality, isolation, and poverty.
In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl (2000) by Rachel Trezise
Trezise's debut novel is one of the defining regional novels of post-industrial Wales. The novel follows a teenage girl in the Valleys who lives in a village stripped of purpose following the closure of its mine. The novel discusses themes of exploitation, poverty, and alcoholism.
Regional writers
Below is a list of some notable writers from each region.
Irish regional writer: James Joyce
Born in 1886 in Rathgar, Ireland, James Joyce is widely viewed as one of the most important Irish writers of the twentieth century. Joyce's novels were set in Dublin and received a commendation for how geographically accurate they were. His most famous books include Ulysses (1922) and Dubliners (1914). Joyce's works discussed themes of class, gender, and identity.
Northern Irish regional writer: Robert McLiam Wilson
Born in Belfast, Robert McLiam Wilson's works have come to define aspects of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. One of his most famous novels was the 1996 book Eureka Street (1996). The novel followed in the footsteps of Across the Barricades (1972) as it centres around the friendship of two Catholic and Protestant working-class men. The novel discusses themes of class, nationality, and identity in the context of the Troubles, as well as themes of friendship and love.
Scottish regional writer: Janice Galloway
Janice Galloway is a Scottish author from Ayrshire who previously worked as a school teacher. Her debut novel, The Trick is to Keep Breathing (1989), won the MIND/Allen Lane Book of the Year Award. The novel follows a young woman in Ayrshire who struggles with grief and mental illness. The novel discusses themes of death, mental health, and gender in working-class Scotland.
Welsh regional writer: Stephen Gregory
Although he was born in Derby, England, Stephen Gregory is commonly regarded as one of the most prolific Welsh horror writers. Gregory was famous for using the isolation of the Welsh countryside as the main setting for his novels. This is famously seen in his novel The Cormorant (1986). It is set in North Wales and features outsiders moving into an isolated village in the countryside. Gregory's novel discusses themes of nature, isolation, and history.
Regional poets
Let's take a look at some poets from the different regions in the UK.
Irish regional poets include:
- Katharine Tynan (1859–1931)
- William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
- Eavan Boland (1944–2020)
Some Northern Irish poets to consider:
- Seamus Heaney (1939–2013)
- Ciaran Carson (1948-2019)
- Ruth Carr (1953-)
Scottish poets include:
These are some notable Welsh poets:
- Hedd Wyn (1887-1917)
- Dylan Thomas (1914-1953)
- Gwyneth Lewis (1959-)
Regional fiction: relevance and importance
Regional fiction remains a popular form of literature throughout the twenty-first century. It is one of the most important types of novels as it is used to give representation to the people who live in these regions. This is especially significant as it is a genre that has historically given a voice to working-class writers. The genre is also important as it discusses how themes such as class, gender, sexuality, and identity can affect specific regions around the world.
Regional Fiction - Key takeaways
- Regional fiction is literature that focuses on a specific area or region.
- The first regional fiction novel was Castle Rackrent (1800) by Maria Edgeworth.
- A regional novel setting defines what themes and characters the piece may explore.
- These novels commonly feature an outsider in the region.
- Common themes in regional fiction include identity, class, and gender.
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