 As a critic he was frequently controversial being dismissive of a number of established writers including Heinrich Boll, Seamus Heaney and most notably Edna O'Brien while he was extremely generous and encouraging to a host of young Irish writers.His first novel, "The Pilgrimage" (1961) was banned by the Irish Censorship Board.Broderick was elected to membership of the Irish Academy of Letters in 1968, and in 1975 received the Academy's Annual Award for Literature.