Hibernian Nights: Twenty-two Tales of Irish Mystery and Magic

by Seumas MacManus

A glorious part of Ireland, the enchanted land of myth and magic, is captured in these twenty-two stories, planned by the "last of the true Irish shanachies" as his final and definitive collection.Here are stories of the days when heroes trod the earth. There are giants to be outsmarted, witches to be scorned, hazardous journeys to make and impossible feats to accomplish. There are bargains to be made and promises to be kept, and always it is a bold and daring youth, perhaps with the help of a dazzling young damsel, who conquers all. Here you meet kings and queens (witty and witless), wizards and hags, enchanted animals and the "little people" of Ireland.These tales -- newly revised and rewritten by Seumas McManus shortly before his death in 1960 -- represent what he described as the "cream of my storylore." Of Mr. McManus, The New York Times has said that he will be the favourite always of "the young in heart who have longed for a return to the imagery and make-believe of a good story in the hands of a craftsman who knows how to set a mood before he begins." His stories speak to adults as well as children, for the gift of the born storyteller is in them -- rich, musical narrative, crackling humour, the warmth of the fireside, magically poetic and true. Here is Irish folklore in the true tradition -- perpetuated for our enjoyment by the greatest Irish storyteller of them all.

Genres: Ireland, Irish Literature, Fairy Tales, Folklore

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Seumas MacManus was an Irish dramatist, poet, and prolific writer of popular stories, who played an important role in the rise of Irish nationalist literature.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this collection. It's full of all kinds of stylish twists on the classic motifs of Irish folklore, and MacManus can turn a phrase! A handful of these tales I will keep coming back to. Taken as a whole, though, in these 22 stories there are a few too many kings for my taste.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What delightful and will fairy tales all from Donegal!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish folk and fairy tales, some of which can be rather disturbing.

[EAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish folktales. Of course I'm going to like them. Excellent diction, as could be expected from a volume by a master storyteller.

"Finn the Fair" reminded me of "Finist the Falcon".

[Marsha Valance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of Irish folktales.