The greatest short stories by Padraic O' Conaire. Greatly influenced by Maupassant Padraig himself has had an immense influence on all Irish writers. He was the only creative writer in Irish in his time and is considered to have been the greatest. Though his work is not without its faults - including many surprise endings and cliches of situation - it has tremendous strength. O' Conaire paints a scene in a few words, his characterization is invariably brilliant and he always shows outstanding sympathy with mankind.