The Country Girls" by Edna O'Brien is the first novel in a trilogy that explores the lives of two young Irish girls, Caithleen "Cait" Brady and Bridget "Baba" Brennan. Set in the late 1950s, the story follows their journey from their rural hometown to Dublin as they seek love and freedom1.

Cait is dreamy and romantic, yearning for true love, while Baba is more rebellious and seeks the excitement of single life. Their friendship faces challenges as they navigate their contrasting desires and ambitions in the big city1. The novel is known for its frank treatment of sexual matters and social issues, which was quite controversial at the time of its publication