SOURCE: Storey, Michael L. Review of The Collected Stories, by John McGahern. Studies in Short Fiction 31, no. 1 (winter 1994): 118–20.

In the following review, Storey explores the recurring themes in McGahern's body of work.

John McGahern is an Irish anomaly. The critical view says that, Joyce excepted, Irish writers of fiction—O'Faolain, O'Connor, Lavin, Trevor, Edna O'Brien and others—are writers of short stories who also write novels. McGahern seems to be the exception that proves the rule. Next to his five novels, which have brought him critical acclaim, prestigious awards and notoriety (his second novel, The Dark was banned in Ireland), his stories—34 in this collection—appear to play a supporting role.

Mary Lavin once remarked that her two novels should probably have been broken up into short stories. McGahern's stories often look like chapters of potential novels. Some are linked to each other by character and plot. “Wheels...