This groundbreaking study seeks to challenge the literary marginalization of Irish popular fiction author Marian Keyes.

Marian Keyes is one of Ireland’s most important fiction authors, but is often not celebrated as such. Keyes’s novels draw on the author’s trademark charm, wit, and pathos, yet her girly packaging and lighthearted marketing resulted in far too little critical attention and celebration compared to her literary contemporaries. Since Keyes first started publishing in 1995, Ireland has changed significantly, from the legalization of divorce, same-sex marriage, and abortion, to the rise and fall of the Celtic Tiger. Marian Keyes and the Politics of Commercial Fiction analyzes how the trappings of commercial fiction underpinning Keyes’ literary margnialization—her affable persona, bubbly book covers, and robust social media presence—have in fact helped her engage with these societal changes through socially inclusive messaging, encouraging readers towards social activism. Focusing on her depiction of three significant Irish loci of shame—addiction, depression, and abortion—this original study draws upon Keyes’s novels, essays, interviews, and online posts to demonstrate how her writings serve as a counterpoint to culturally prevalent, stigmatizing depictions of people coping with addiction and mental illness. Maria Butler engages with Keyes’s longstanding abortion activism to emphasize the literary, political, and societal importance of feminine-coded commercial literature.