Down by the River (novel)

First edition
(publ. Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

Down by the River is a 1997 novel by Irish novelist Edna O'Brien. The novel depicts the response of a local community the a girl, Mary, abuse by her father being exposed to their local community when she tries to get an abortion. The ensuing legal battle in a country which bans abortions.[1]

The novel was based on a real-life story from 1992, when a similar case ignited controversy in both Ireland and the UK.[1][2] The novel highlights the psychological realities of such attention on the girl, as she struggles with her abuse.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Fiction Book Review: Down by the River by Edna O'Brien". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  2. ^ a b Mantel, Hilary (May 25, 1997). "Saved From Drowning". The New York Times Review of Books.