Edna O'Brien's frank, funny and subversive story of growing up in rural Ireland in the 50s. Kate and Baba - girls who occupy the twin poles of romance and realism - have nonetheless been friends forever, united by a tacit resilience to the world they have to endure.

Written by Edna O'Brien - born in 1930 - she is now celebrated as the fearless chronicler of the dark underbelly of rural Ireland. Originally published in the 1960s, The Country Girls, and the two other novels in The Country Girls trilogy (The Lonely Girl and Girls in their Married Bliss), were banned by the Irish Censorship Board, burnt publicly in O'Brien's home town, and described by the Justice Minister (a young Charles Haughey) as filth. Fifty years later, the trilogy is recognised as an iconic work of twentieth century Irish fiction.