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The Wondersmith and His Son: A Tale from the Golden Childhood of the World
A collection of fourteen folktales concerning the Gubbaun Saor, or Wonder-Smith of Ireland. Includes: How the Gubbaun Saor Got His Trade / How the Gubbaun Saor Proved Himself / How the Gubbaun Saor Got His Son / How the Gubbaun Saor Tried His Hand at Match-Making / How the Son of the Gubbaun Saor Met With Good Luck / How the Gubbaun Saor Welcomes Home His Daughter / How the Gubbaun Quarreled With Aunya, and What Came of It / How the Son of the Gubbaun Saor Talked With Lords from a Strange Country / The Building of Balor's Dune / How the Djinn Out of Balor's Country Brought a Message to Aunya / The Embassy of Balor's Son / The Gubbaun Saor's Feast / How the Gubbaun Saor Went Into the Country of the Ever-Young / The Great Piast.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1927
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203 people want to read
About the author
Ella Young
53 books10 followersElla Young was an Irish poet and Celtic mythologist active in the Gaelic and Celtic Revival literary movement of the late 19th and early 20th century. Born in Ireland, Young was an author of poetry and children's books. She emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1925 as a temporary visitor and lived in California. For five years, she gave speaking tours on Celtic mythology at American universities, and in 1931, she was involved in a publicized immigration controversy when she attempted to become a citizen.
Young held a chair in Irish Myth and Lore at the University of California, Berkeley for seven years. At Berkeley, she was known for her colorful and lively persona, giving lectures while wearing the purple robes of a Druid, expounding on legendary creatures such as fairies and elves, and praising the benefits of talking to trees. Her encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject of Celtic mythology attracted and influenced many of her friends and won her a wide audience among writers and artists in California, including poet Robinson Jeffers, philosopher Alan Watts, photographer Ansel Adams, and composer Harry Partch, who set several of her poems to music.
Later in life, she served as the "godmother" and inspiration for the Dunites, a group of artists living in the dunes of San Luis Obispo County. She retired to the town of Oceano, where she died at the age of 88.
Young held a chair in Irish Myth and Lore at the University of California, Berkeley for seven years. At Berkeley, she was known for her colorful and lively persona, giving lectures while wearing the purple robes of a Druid, expounding on legendary creatures such as fairies and elves, and praising the benefits of talking to trees. Her encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject of Celtic mythology attracted and influenced many of her friends and won her a wide audience among writers and artists in California, including poet Robinson Jeffers, philosopher Alan Watts, photographer Ansel Adams, and composer Harry Partch, who set several of her poems to music.
Later in life, she served as the "godmother" and inspiration for the Dunites, a group of artists living in the dunes of San Luis Obispo County. She retired to the town of Oceano, where she died at the age of 88.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 14, 2019
As the Gubbaun Saor - the great smith of Ireland - lay dying, his son took up his flute, and played the music of the Faery Hills. "Thin and faint at first and of an unearthly sweetness it filled the mind as with a heaven of stars. It had the sound of every instrument and the sound of singing voices in it. Slow rhythms moved through it like sea-waves: light, fierce rhythms leaped like flame: it turned and twisted on itself in intricate mazes and dances of delight. It rose and swelled till it filled the tent of the sky. It slid away into hollows and secret caverns of the earth - chilled and drenched with sweetness. It ebbed and ebbed, withdrawing itself as Cleena's Wave withdraws - a ripple of foam on the void - an echo - a soundless abysm."
It is this sweet music, with its hypnotic rhythms and enchanting tones, its strange power to move the spirit and touch the heart, that can be heard all through Ella Young's achingly beautiful The Wondersmith and His Son, a collection of fourteen Irish tales concerning that magical smith, and inventor of marvels, known here as the Gubbaun Saor, and elsewhere as Goibniu. Collected by Young both in Irish and English, in the small villages of the west of Ireland - in Clare, Kerry, and on Mayo's Achill Island - these tales come to us from the storehouse of a great folk tradition, their strength and beauty undiminished by the telling.
Again and again, as I read them, I was struck by the sheer poetry of the language, and the deceptively simple power of the stories themselves. Here is the Gubbaun, longing for the son he does not have, and willing to trade the daughter he does, for a stranger's boy. And here is the Gubbaun, learning too late that his own daughter - the wise Aunya, capable of outwitting even her great father - will always be his true child, and the true inheritor of his mind.
Here is the generous Gubbaun, offering his blessing to the Pooka: "My blessing to you, Brother of mine; White Love of Running Water; White Wave of Turbulent Sea. I will win you lovers and new kingdoms. You shall be a song in the heart; a dream that slips from city to city; a flame; a whiteness of peace in the murk of battle; a honied laughter; a quenchless delight. These, O my Brother, because of me: and at the last, my hand upon your neck."
Here is the Gubbaun, giving his son the road-blessing, before sending him off to win a bride (the superior Aunya, of course!): My blessing on the road that is smooth," said the Gubbaun, "and on the rough road through the quagmire. A blessing on night with the stars; and night when the stars are quenched. A blessing on the clear sky of day; and day that is choked with thunder. May my blessing run before you. May my blessing guard you on the right hand and on the left. May my blessing follow you as your shadow follows. Take my road-blessing."
And here, finally, is the Gubbaun, lost in the dreams of old age, waiting to be called forth, one last time, by his adoptive son: "I know a Forest," said the Gubbaun, "a dark Forest - the leaves of it are days and years, the twisted boughs of it are centuries and millenniums - and I am tangled in its dark and crooked ways: I am caught in its thorny branches: I am lost."
There is magic here, and beauty, and all the strange and disquieting enchantment that is the reward of true mythology. Here are no cute stories of rainbows with pots of gold, no leprechauns (I'm looking at you, David), no pleasant tales that ask little of the reader, and give little in return. No, these are tales of power. They demand that we speak their language, and offer no extraneous explanations, of who is who, and what is what. No mention is made here of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and although Balor and the Fomorians do appear, the assumption is that the reader will understand who they are. Terms are also not explained, and the modern reader, with no knowledge of Irish, might be forgiven for wondering just how the Gubbaun could build a "Dune" (no, it isn't made of sand...). But while these tales assume a certain level of knowledge, and demand engagement, they repay the reader with true wonderment.
Selected as a Newbery Honor Book in 1928, The Wondersmith and His Son was originally published for children, but is it a children's book? I honestly couldn't say - I know only that I was a child again, as I read it, with all the mystery, and beauty, and terror of the world still before me.
It is this sweet music, with its hypnotic rhythms and enchanting tones, its strange power to move the spirit and touch the heart, that can be heard all through Ella Young's achingly beautiful The Wondersmith and His Son, a collection of fourteen Irish tales concerning that magical smith, and inventor of marvels, known here as the Gubbaun Saor, and elsewhere as Goibniu. Collected by Young both in Irish and English, in the small villages of the west of Ireland - in Clare, Kerry, and on Mayo's Achill Island - these tales come to us from the storehouse of a great folk tradition, their strength and beauty undiminished by the telling.
Again and again, as I read them, I was struck by the sheer poetry of the language, and the deceptively simple power of the stories themselves. Here is the Gubbaun, longing for the son he does not have, and willing to trade the daughter he does, for a stranger's boy. And here is the Gubbaun, learning too late that his own daughter - the wise Aunya, capable of outwitting even her great father - will always be his true child, and the true inheritor of his mind.
Here is the generous Gubbaun, offering his blessing to the Pooka: "My blessing to you, Brother of mine; White Love of Running Water; White Wave of Turbulent Sea. I will win you lovers and new kingdoms. You shall be a song in the heart; a dream that slips from city to city; a flame; a whiteness of peace in the murk of battle; a honied laughter; a quenchless delight. These, O my Brother, because of me: and at the last, my hand upon your neck."
Here is the Gubbaun, giving his son the road-blessing, before sending him off to win a bride (the superior Aunya, of course!): My blessing on the road that is smooth," said the Gubbaun, "and on the rough road through the quagmire. A blessing on night with the stars; and night when the stars are quenched. A blessing on the clear sky of day; and day that is choked with thunder. May my blessing run before you. May my blessing guard you on the right hand and on the left. May my blessing follow you as your shadow follows. Take my road-blessing."
And here, finally, is the Gubbaun, lost in the dreams of old age, waiting to be called forth, one last time, by his adoptive son: "I know a Forest," said the Gubbaun, "a dark Forest - the leaves of it are days and years, the twisted boughs of it are centuries and millenniums - and I am tangled in its dark and crooked ways: I am caught in its thorny branches: I am lost."
There is magic here, and beauty, and all the strange and disquieting enchantment that is the reward of true mythology. Here are no cute stories of rainbows with pots of gold, no leprechauns (I'm looking at you, David), no pleasant tales that ask little of the reader, and give little in return. No, these are tales of power. They demand that we speak their language, and offer no extraneous explanations, of who is who, and what is what. No mention is made here of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and although Balor and the Fomorians do appear, the assumption is that the reader will understand who they are. Terms are also not explained, and the modern reader, with no knowledge of Irish, might be forgiven for wondering just how the Gubbaun could build a "Dune" (no, it isn't made of sand...). But while these tales assume a certain level of knowledge, and demand engagement, they repay the reader with true wonderment.
Selected as a Newbery Honor Book in 1928, The Wondersmith and His Son was originally published for children, but is it a children's book? I honestly couldn't say - I know only that I was a child again, as I read it, with all the mystery, and beauty, and terror of the world still before me.
February 4, 2010
What lovely language!
The edition from my library is from 1955, and has pasted into the back cover a description from Horn Books that reads: "Miss Young has gathered these stories of the Gubbaun Saor from the cottagers and fishermen of Gaelic-speaking Ireland where they have been told for more than a thousand years. There is a strange wild loveliness in their telling that makes their imagination and humorous fancy a real contribution to our folk literature."
The edition from my library is from 1955, and has pasted into the back cover a description from Horn Books that reads: "Miss Young has gathered these stories of the Gubbaun Saor from the cottagers and fishermen of Gaelic-speaking Ireland where they have been told for more than a thousand years. There is a strange wild loveliness in their telling that makes their imagination and humorous fancy a real contribution to our folk literature."
October 3, 2021
Another surprising find among the older Newbery books.
When it comes to the older Newbery books, I generally like the folktales the best and this was no exception. I loved reading these delightful Gaelic tales of the Gubbaun Saor, his singing son, and the clever Aunya.
Aunya was my favorite character. Her father, the Gubbaun Saor, was annoyed he didn't have a son, so he traded his daughter, Aunya, for the son of a passing woman who wanted a daughter. Much to his disappointment, the son didn't live up to his expectations and he wished for his daughter back. When Aunya did come back she proved that she was more clever than even her famous father. I loved her confidence.
It was very easy to read. The stories flowed easily and the book isn't very long. If it were easier to obtain a copy, I wouldn't even mind reading this one again.
I was able to read it on Open Library. I'm not willing to spend more than a couple of dollars on a Newbery book and I'm definitely not willing to drive myself to a college library and sit there for hours to read one. LOL! I'm grateful that Open Library has so many of them available online.
When it comes to the older Newbery books, I generally like the folktales the best and this was no exception. I loved reading these delightful Gaelic tales of the Gubbaun Saor, his singing son, and the clever Aunya.
Aunya was my favorite character. Her father, the Gubbaun Saor, was annoyed he didn't have a son, so he traded his daughter, Aunya, for the son of a passing woman who wanted a daughter. Much to his disappointment, the son didn't live up to his expectations and he wished for his daughter back. When Aunya did come back she proved that she was more clever than even her famous father. I loved her confidence.
It was very easy to read. The stories flowed easily and the book isn't very long. If it were easier to obtain a copy, I wouldn't even mind reading this one again.
I was able to read it on Open Library. I'm not willing to spend more than a couple of dollars on a Newbery book and I'm definitely not willing to drive myself to a college library and sit there for hours to read one. LOL! I'm grateful that Open Library has so many of them available online.
February 21, 2025
This was interesting. The illustrations are beautiful, but in the edition I read, they aren't lined up with the part of the book they are illustrating, so you see the picture and then chapters later read the story the picture is about, which I found frustrating and really annoying.
July 12, 2025
Neat book of Irish folklore about a mythologized historical architect and smith who lived in the 6th century, A.D. He was a builder in both wood and stone, and many churches, oratories, and bell towers were attributed to him. This is a 1928 Newbery book. Nice free LibriVox audiobook edition.
March 8, 2011
An interesting set of stories, but I really could have used a pronunciation guide. And a few background notes.
October 6, 2017
This is another of the forgotten Newberys, winning the Honor in 1928. Upon hearing an Irish folktale about Gubbaun Saor (now written Goban Saor), the author spent 20 years collecting the remaining tales. These aren't like the tales of Cuchulain, one of heroes of Ulster from the first century. Gubban seems to date later 6th-7th century; there are literary allusions in which he does architectural work for various Irish saints. There are no great battles and as a result the reader is left with the feeling of not much happening in most of the tales, but Gubbaun's a bit tricksy and has the gift of gab. My favorite tales are the one in which he has a chat with a pooka and the ones involving his daughter Aunya (who has an even bigger gift of gab). The most adventurous cycle of tales is when he goes to build a "dune"/house for Balor of the Nomor, realizes his death is intended, and with his daughter's help tricks his way free. I read this for my 2017 Reading Challenge "a book based in mythology" (PopSugar)and my Newbery Challenge.
January 18, 2025
A collection of fourteen connected stories about the Gubbaun Saor, a mythic figure in Irish culture, who is the titular “wonder smith,” being able to quickly build amazing buildings and sculptures. This was a quick read, but the legendary world filled with magical creatures and the story logic of mythology was more engaging than I had expected.
I don’t have the knowledge to differentiate folktale from mythology, if there is any difference – this era of the Newbery had a couple of folktale collections focused on a specific culture win the medal (Tales from Silver Lands in 1925 and Shen of the Sea in 1926), but while those feel dated in a “1920s guy tells you about another culture” way, this feels more timeless than dated. It gave more of a Greek mythology vibe than a folktale vibe, but again, maybe Greek “mythology” is just another term for ancient Greek folktales.
This is old enough to be in the public domain, and I think it’s worth checking out. It’s 200 pages long, but that is heavily padded out, so it reads very quickly. Part of the padding are some great illustrations in a really distinctive style by Boris Artzybasheff that add to the mood of the book.
I don’t have the knowledge to differentiate folktale from mythology, if there is any difference – this era of the Newbery had a couple of folktale collections focused on a specific culture win the medal (Tales from Silver Lands in 1925 and Shen of the Sea in 1926), but while those feel dated in a “1920s guy tells you about another culture” way, this feels more timeless than dated. It gave more of a Greek mythology vibe than a folktale vibe, but again, maybe Greek “mythology” is just another term for ancient Greek folktales.
This is old enough to be in the public domain, and I think it’s worth checking out. It’s 200 pages long, but that is heavily padded out, so it reads very quickly. Part of the padding are some great illustrations in a really distinctive style by Boris Artzybasheff that add to the mood of the book.
December 4, 2018
Interesting collection of folktales about the Wonder Smith, Gubbain and his son and daughter. Some of the stories were a bit confusing and I don't understand why the author chose to use mythological terms from non-Celtic cultures, but the illustrations were wonderful and some of the tales intriguing.
August 12, 2018
This book was so much better than The Tangle-Coated Horse. The language was much simpler, and definitely aimed at children. The flow of the stories was clearer as well. Still not quite four stars, but 3.5.
August 12, 2019
Worth it just for the woodcuts, but the stories are beautifully told as well. Anyone who is fond of Tolkien should spend some time with this one.
Want to read
June 12, 20251928 Newbery honor book
September 7, 2017
I didn't rate this book very highly, but the story (stories) wasn't really that bad. I liked the idea that the author had wrangled up Gaelic old tales, some directly from ye old folks, and put them together to try and make a somewhat cohesive book. But this book had a hard time keeping my interest, try as I might. It was relatively short and the tales weren’t that bad. There’s just something about that style I don’t get along with. I read the author’s note at the beginning; it read just fine, and was a rather interesting blurb. It’s like she turned something on specifically to write the book and I'm not dialed in properly.
August 7, 2022
Gubbaun Soar finds some tools and a town. He carves a King Cat to prove himself. He builds a home for his daughter, Aunya, but he wishes he had a son instead. He trades his daughter to a woman for her son, but regrets it later. He send the son to find a wife, and he finds Aunya. When Gubbaun Soar tries to send Aunya away again, she cleverly tricks him out of his own house. Gubbaun Soar and his son set out on a journey, but when the son is unable to make the road shorter, then turn back home. Aunya tells the son how to shorten the road, and they set back out. Balor wants them to build a dune for him. The son plays the flute to heal a child, who in turn tells him Balor plans to kill them when they are done building the dune. Aunya battles Balor's djinn, and Gubbaun Soar uses Balor's son to get Balor to release them. There is a big feast when they return.
I found this book difficult to understand at times, but there were also some pretty funny parts revolving around the son's lack of cleverness.
I found this book difficult to understand at times, but there were also some pretty funny parts revolving around the son's lack of cleverness.
June 27, 2015
A long time ago, a lot of the Newbery Award and honor books were collections of tales from some place or another. This book isn't nearly as bad as Tales from Silver Lands, but it sure isn't great either. This is tales from Ireland, in particular tales of a legendary hero-smith type person named Gudduan the Soar. The author spent 20 years collecting stories people remembered about him from around Ireland. Yet with the stories themselves I was not impressed.
October 7, 2012
Beautiful language, lots of unexpected twists, neat story, interesting mythology. I'm glad it's not cute or childish, which in folk tales and mythology can make me kind of nuts. If you're a child and you read this, I think you must have thougt it was pretty awesome, even if you didn't understand many of the words. And if you haven't read it and like this sort of mythology stuff, it's great.
May 4, 2014
This is a collection of old celtic stories about Gubbaun Saor also known as Mananaun also called Cullion the Smith. He is delivered of a set of tools by uncommon means and becomes the Master-builder, the Wonder-Smith. He has adventures and learns the value of a daughter after swapping her for a useless son. (She comes back into the story.)
Accompanied with lovely black and white illustrations.
Accompanied with lovely black and white illustrations.
Want to read
July 15, 20121928 Newbery Honor Book
August 23, 2016
Read the full review here: http://newberyandbeyond.com/newbery-r...
April 26, 2017
Interesting in a way, but I do not see it a book at a young person would read. Also, interesting illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews