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Irish Fairy and Folk Tales (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Pocket Editions) by Various Authors (31-Jan-2015) Hardcover
1 Cuan Mac Cairill recounts his part settling Eire to priest who wants to convert him2 Boyhood of Fionn3 The Birth of Bran4 Oisi'n's Mother5 The Wooing of Becfolla6 The Brawl at Allen7 The Carl of the Drab Coat8 The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran9 Becuma of the White Skin10 Mongan's Frenzy
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1920
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About the author
James Stephens
406 books45 followersJames Stephens was an Irish novelist and poet. James' mother worked in the home of the Collins family of Dublin and was adopted by them. He attended school with his adopted brothers Thomas and Richard (Tom and Dick) before graduating as a solicitor's clerk. They competed and won several athletic competitions despite James' slight stature (he stood 4'10" in his socks). He was known affectionately as 'Tiny Tim'. He was much enthralled by tales of military valour of his adoptive family and would have been a soldier except for his height. By the early 1900s James was increasingly inclined to socialism and the Irish language (he could speak and write Irish) and by 1912 was a dedicated Irish Republican. He was a close friend of the 1916 leader Thomas MacDonagh, who was then editor of "The Irish Review", manager of the Irish Theatre and deputy headmaster in St Enda's, the radical bilingual Montessori school run by PH Pearse, and spent most with MacDonagh in 1911. His growing nationalism brought a schism with his adopted family.
James Stephens produced many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humour and lyricism (Deirdre, and Irish Fairy Tales are often especially praised). He also wrote several original novels (Crock of Gold, Etched in Moonlight, Demi-Gods) based loosely on Irish fairy tales. "Crock of Gold," in particular, achieved enduring popularity and was reprinted frequently throughout the author's lifetime.
Stephens began his career as a poet with the tutelage of "Æ" (George William Russell). His first book of poems, "Insurrections," was published in 1909. His last book, "Kings and the Moon" (1938), was also a volume of verse.
During the 1930s, Stephens had some acquaintance with James Joyce, who mistakenly believed that they shared a birthday. Joyce, who was concerned with his ability to finish what later became Finnegans Wake, proposed that Stephens assist him, with the authorship credited to JJ & S (James Joyce & Stephens, also a pun for the popular Irish whiskey made by John Jameson & Sons). The plan, however, was never implemented, as Joyce was able to complete the work on his own.
During the last decade of his life, Stephens found a new audience through a series of broadcasts on the BBC.
James Stephens produced many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humour and lyricism (Deirdre, and Irish Fairy Tales are often especially praised). He also wrote several original novels (Crock of Gold, Etched in Moonlight, Demi-Gods) based loosely on Irish fairy tales. "Crock of Gold," in particular, achieved enduring popularity and was reprinted frequently throughout the author's lifetime.
Stephens began his career as a poet with the tutelage of "Æ" (George William Russell). His first book of poems, "Insurrections," was published in 1909. His last book, "Kings and the Moon" (1938), was also a volume of verse.
During the 1930s, Stephens had some acquaintance with James Joyce, who mistakenly believed that they shared a birthday. Joyce, who was concerned with his ability to finish what later became Finnegans Wake, proposed that Stephens assist him, with the authorship credited to JJ & S (James Joyce & Stephens, also a pun for the popular Irish whiskey made by John Jameson & Sons). The plan, however, was never implemented, as Joyce was able to complete the work on his own.
During the last decade of his life, Stephens found a new audience through a series of broadcasts on the BBC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
January 23, 2021
This is borderline epic fantasy of an almost modern nature stylistically. Just what I was hoping for! The Irish never let me down!
January 22, 2015
I recently read an excellent book of some less well known fairy tales ('The Fairy Ring', free online at Gutenberg) and glibly joked that the four Gaelic stories included were a little disappointing because none of them featured a leprechaun!
I resolved to find a book dedicated solely to Irish fairy tales.
Well, 'Irish Fairy Tales' by James Stephens doesn't have any leprechauns either, but that is hardly a let down. No, these stories are steeped in the very depths of Irish folklore, from the same sources that Yeats immersed himself in, going right back to the recoded beginnings.
That means historical and spiritual fairy tales of ancient Tara, those heard, adapted and written by the monks and priests of Ireland as Christianity came to the land and proceeded to convert the indigenous pagans to the new creed.
'The Story of Tuan, the son of Cairill', is the tale of one of the original Ulsterman, the brother "of Partholon, the son of Noah's son", who had lived through the centuries as both man and beast until being gladly converted by Finnian, the Abbot of Moville.
Next is the story of 'The Boyhood of Fionn', whom Saint Patrick called 'a king, a seer and a poet ... He was our magician, our knowledgable one, our soothsayer', who became the Chief Captain of the Fianna and is more commonly known as Finn MacCool.
Raised in secret by female druids, traveling poets, a robber, a king, and a wise man, Fionn (pronounced to rhyme with 'tune') becomes a mighty man of both knowledge and action, defeating the deadly faery god Aillen mac Midna on the Feast of Samhain, our Halloween.
His upbringing is truly the stuff of legend. When debating the best music with friends, his answer is very apt for a hero:
"The music of what happens," said great Fionn, "that is the finest music in the world."
'The Birth of Bran' tells of the origins of one of Fionn's beloved dogs, which was also one of his cousins thanks to an interfering faery whose jealous plans turn a fair maiden into a hound.
'Oisin's Mother' relates the birth of Fionn's poet son, born to him by his faery love Saeve, who was was turned into a fawn and stolen from her husband by The Dark Man of the Shi.
The story of 'The Wooing of Becfola' takes us briefly away from the adventures of Fionn to illustrate the judgement of the new religion on adultery, as the wife of the monarch Dermod becomes infatuated with two other men in turn.
Then it's back to Fionn and his entourage for three largely comic tales that feature, in turn, a drunken scrap ('The Little Brawl at Allen'), a foot race ('The Carl of the Drab Coat') and a starring role for Fionn's fierce ally and enemy all in one, Goll mor mac Morna, who fights four faery hags and delivers 'one of the three great sword-strokes of Ireland' ('The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran').
The penultimate tale, 'Becuma of the White Skin' turns attention to the High King, or Ard-Ri' of Ireland, Conn the Hundred Fighter, who has to choose a new wife and chooses badly. The story contains much of interest, including the quest of the king's son Art and an isle of apples - Arthur and Avalon perhaps?
It also contains an obvious Christ-like figure, Segda, who the people wish to be sacrificed, as well as this simply brilliant opening sentence:
"There are more worlds than one, and in many ways they are unlike each other. But joy and sorrow, or, in other words, good and evil, are not absent in their degree from any of the worlds, for wherever there is life there is action, and action is but the expression of one or other of these qualities.'
The collection closes with 'Morgan's Frenzy', which brings back the Abbot of Moville as a framing device and introduces another aspect of Fionn in a meandering spouse swapping story.
I can't tell you how glad I am to have discovered this book. The author, James Stephens, a friend of James Joyce, clearly knew and revered his subject, yet is bold and gifted enough to retell these stories in his own way.
There is more poetry, wit and wisdom in this collection than you could ever hope to find in any book.
I resolved to find a book dedicated solely to Irish fairy tales.
Well, 'Irish Fairy Tales' by James Stephens doesn't have any leprechauns either, but that is hardly a let down. No, these stories are steeped in the very depths of Irish folklore, from the same sources that Yeats immersed himself in, going right back to the recoded beginnings.
That means historical and spiritual fairy tales of ancient Tara, those heard, adapted and written by the monks and priests of Ireland as Christianity came to the land and proceeded to convert the indigenous pagans to the new creed.
'The Story of Tuan, the son of Cairill', is the tale of one of the original Ulsterman, the brother "of Partholon, the son of Noah's son", who had lived through the centuries as both man and beast until being gladly converted by Finnian, the Abbot of Moville.
Next is the story of 'The Boyhood of Fionn', whom Saint Patrick called 'a king, a seer and a poet ... He was our magician, our knowledgable one, our soothsayer', who became the Chief Captain of the Fianna and is more commonly known as Finn MacCool.
Raised in secret by female druids, traveling poets, a robber, a king, and a wise man, Fionn (pronounced to rhyme with 'tune') becomes a mighty man of both knowledge and action, defeating the deadly faery god Aillen mac Midna on the Feast of Samhain, our Halloween.
His upbringing is truly the stuff of legend. When debating the best music with friends, his answer is very apt for a hero:
"The music of what happens," said great Fionn, "that is the finest music in the world."
'The Birth of Bran' tells of the origins of one of Fionn's beloved dogs, which was also one of his cousins thanks to an interfering faery whose jealous plans turn a fair maiden into a hound.
'Oisin's Mother' relates the birth of Fionn's poet son, born to him by his faery love Saeve, who was was turned into a fawn and stolen from her husband by The Dark Man of the Shi.
The story of 'The Wooing of Becfola' takes us briefly away from the adventures of Fionn to illustrate the judgement of the new religion on adultery, as the wife of the monarch Dermod becomes infatuated with two other men in turn.
Then it's back to Fionn and his entourage for three largely comic tales that feature, in turn, a drunken scrap ('The Little Brawl at Allen'), a foot race ('The Carl of the Drab Coat') and a starring role for Fionn's fierce ally and enemy all in one, Goll mor mac Morna, who fights four faery hags and delivers 'one of the three great sword-strokes of Ireland' ('The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran').
The penultimate tale, 'Becuma of the White Skin' turns attention to the High King, or Ard-Ri' of Ireland, Conn the Hundred Fighter, who has to choose a new wife and chooses badly. The story contains much of interest, including the quest of the king's son Art and an isle of apples - Arthur and Avalon perhaps?
It also contains an obvious Christ-like figure, Segda, who the people wish to be sacrificed, as well as this simply brilliant opening sentence:
"There are more worlds than one, and in many ways they are unlike each other. But joy and sorrow, or, in other words, good and evil, are not absent in their degree from any of the worlds, for wherever there is life there is action, and action is but the expression of one or other of these qualities.'
The collection closes with 'Morgan's Frenzy', which brings back the Abbot of Moville as a framing device and introduces another aspect of Fionn in a meandering spouse swapping story.
I can't tell you how glad I am to have discovered this book. The author, James Stephens, a friend of James Joyce, clearly knew and revered his subject, yet is bold and gifted enough to retell these stories in his own way.
There is more poetry, wit and wisdom in this collection than you could ever hope to find in any book.
April 8, 2012
'In truth we do not go to Faery, we become faery, and in the beating of a pulse we may live for a year or a thousand years.'
A good collection, very funny and with that uniquely Irish feel to it. And I should say that this is not so much a collection of Irish fairy tales as a collection of Irish sagas, interactions with the daoine sídhe woven through them.
A few of the tales are beautifully told, in particular The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill,
'The green tides of ocean rose over me and my dream, so that I drowned in the sea and did not die, for I awoke in deep waters, and I was that which I dreamed.
I had been a man, a stag, a boar, a bird, and now I was a fish.
In all my changes I had joy and fulness of life. But in the water joy lay deeper, life pulsed deeper.
For on land or air there is always something excessive and hindering, as arms that swing at the sides of a man, and which the mind must remember. The stag has legs to be tucked away for sleep, and untucked for movement, and the bird has wings that must be folded and pecked and cared for.
But the fish has but one piece from his nose to his tail.
He is complete, single and unencumbered.
He turns in one turn, and goes up and down and round in one small movement.
How I flew through the soft element: how I joyed in the country where there is no harshness: in the element which upholds and gives way, which caresses and lets go, and will not let you fall.
For man may stumble in a furrow; the stag tumble from a cliff; the hawk, wing weary and beaten, with darkness around him and the storm behind, may dash his brains against a tree.
But the home of the salmon is his delight, and the sea guards all her creatures.'
In case the lengthy excerpt didn't give it away, onto the favorites shelf goes the story of Tuan mac Cairill, a recluse who retains his memories from his previous incaranations going back to the beginning of time in Ireland. Compelling stuff.
I did feel as though much of the beauty of the language was lost in translation, sadly. The most obvious example being the terms of endearment, 'my pulse' just doesn't have the same ring to it that 'a chuisle' does.
A good collection, very funny and with that uniquely Irish feel to it. And I should say that this is not so much a collection of Irish fairy tales as a collection of Irish sagas, interactions with the daoine sídhe woven through them.
A few of the tales are beautifully told, in particular The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill,
'The green tides of ocean rose over me and my dream, so that I drowned in the sea and did not die, for I awoke in deep waters, and I was that which I dreamed.
I had been a man, a stag, a boar, a bird, and now I was a fish.
In all my changes I had joy and fulness of life. But in the water joy lay deeper, life pulsed deeper.
For on land or air there is always something excessive and hindering, as arms that swing at the sides of a man, and which the mind must remember. The stag has legs to be tucked away for sleep, and untucked for movement, and the bird has wings that must be folded and pecked and cared for.
But the fish has but one piece from his nose to his tail.
He is complete, single and unencumbered.
He turns in one turn, and goes up and down and round in one small movement.
How I flew through the soft element: how I joyed in the country where there is no harshness: in the element which upholds and gives way, which caresses and lets go, and will not let you fall.
For man may stumble in a furrow; the stag tumble from a cliff; the hawk, wing weary and beaten, with darkness around him and the storm behind, may dash his brains against a tree.
But the home of the salmon is his delight, and the sea guards all her creatures.'
In case the lengthy excerpt didn't give it away, onto the favorites shelf goes the story of Tuan mac Cairill, a recluse who retains his memories from his previous incaranations going back to the beginning of time in Ireland. Compelling stuff.
I did feel as though much of the beauty of the language was lost in translation, sadly. The most obvious example being the terms of endearment, 'my pulse' just doesn't have the same ring to it that 'a chuisle' does.
January 14, 2025
4.75 🌟
Finally! I had to give myself a pat on the back for finishing this book.😅 I have come to learn that I am not an ebook girly. If I want to finish a book within a week or so, then I need a physical copy. So the time it took me to read this book was all my fault, not the book itself because I loved it! 🫶 Ever since I was a little girl, I have been in love with Ireland because of my older sister’s love for it. I long to see the beautiful, foamy sea crash against the cliffs and run in the lush, green grass of its rolling hills and valleys. But if I want to visit that great place someday, I need to educate myself on the lore of that fine country.
I loved the stories about Fionn. He was my favorite character by far, and I would be sorely disappointed when the story would be about someone else. But they were all wonderful. From stealing back wives using magic to traveling to the Faery to rival clans making peace and war with one another, I had a grand time reading such fairytales, allowing my imagination to run wild and free. There were so many good quotes in this book, but I won’t bore you with putting every single one in this review. You’ll have to read it for yourself if you want to hear the bits of wisdom and facts this book offers. 😉 But here are a few to give you a taste of what I am rambling about.
“...all that has ever been done has been done for the glory of God, and to confess our good and evil deeds is part of instruction; for the soul must recall its acts and abide by them, or renounce them by confession and penitence.”
“We get wise by asking questions, and even if these are not answered we get wise, for a well-packed question carries its answer on its back as a snail carries its shell.”
“To ask questions can become the laziest and wobbliest occupation of a mind, but when you must yourself answer the problem that you have posed, you will meditate your question with care and frame it with precision.”
“Knowledge, may it be said, is higher than magic and is more to be sought. It is quite possible to see what is happening and yet not know what is forward, for while seeing is believing it does not follow that either seeing or believing is knowing. Many a person can see a thing and believe a thing and know just as little about it as a person who does neither.”
“But the law of life is change; nothing continues in the same way for any length of time; happiness must become unhappiness, and will be succeeded again by the joy it had displaced. The past also must be reckoned with; it is seldom as far behind us as we could wish: it is more often in front, blocking the way, and the future trips over it just when we think that the road is clear and joy our own.”
Those are just a few of the quotes I highlighted in this book, but there are many. If you loved reading fairytales as a child or are trying to see what you missed as a youngster and see if there is anything good in fairytales, I highly recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed by the adventure, romance, and camaraderie in every line in every story.
I will repeat the beautiful line that the first story ended with to end my review: “...for the glory of God and the honour of Ireland.” 🇮🇪❤️
Finally! I had to give myself a pat on the back for finishing this book.😅 I have come to learn that I am not an ebook girly. If I want to finish a book within a week or so, then I need a physical copy. So the time it took me to read this book was all my fault, not the book itself because I loved it! 🫶 Ever since I was a little girl, I have been in love with Ireland because of my older sister’s love for it. I long to see the beautiful, foamy sea crash against the cliffs and run in the lush, green grass of its rolling hills and valleys. But if I want to visit that great place someday, I need to educate myself on the lore of that fine country.
I loved the stories about Fionn. He was my favorite character by far, and I would be sorely disappointed when the story would be about someone else. But they were all wonderful. From stealing back wives using magic to traveling to the Faery to rival clans making peace and war with one another, I had a grand time reading such fairytales, allowing my imagination to run wild and free. There were so many good quotes in this book, but I won’t bore you with putting every single one in this review. You’ll have to read it for yourself if you want to hear the bits of wisdom and facts this book offers. 😉 But here are a few to give you a taste of what I am rambling about.
“...all that has ever been done has been done for the glory of God, and to confess our good and evil deeds is part of instruction; for the soul must recall its acts and abide by them, or renounce them by confession and penitence.”
“We get wise by asking questions, and even if these are not answered we get wise, for a well-packed question carries its answer on its back as a snail carries its shell.”
“To ask questions can become the laziest and wobbliest occupation of a mind, but when you must yourself answer the problem that you have posed, you will meditate your question with care and frame it with precision.”
“Knowledge, may it be said, is higher than magic and is more to be sought. It is quite possible to see what is happening and yet not know what is forward, for while seeing is believing it does not follow that either seeing or believing is knowing. Many a person can see a thing and believe a thing and know just as little about it as a person who does neither.”
“But the law of life is change; nothing continues in the same way for any length of time; happiness must become unhappiness, and will be succeeded again by the joy it had displaced. The past also must be reckoned with; it is seldom as far behind us as we could wish: it is more often in front, blocking the way, and the future trips over it just when we think that the road is clear and joy our own.”
Those are just a few of the quotes I highlighted in this book, but there are many. If you loved reading fairytales as a child or are trying to see what you missed as a youngster and see if there is anything good in fairytales, I highly recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed by the adventure, romance, and camaraderie in every line in every story.
I will repeat the beautiful line that the first story ended with to end my review: “...for the glory of God and the honour of Ireland.” 🇮🇪❤️
February 12, 2019
Упоительно-сладкий мёд.
Любовное томление и лёгкое дыхание.
Густо-населённое собрание героев и дивных существ, некогда поцеловавших ирландскую землю в макушку, от того она столь зелена, пушиста и пригожа, пусть и опасна, порывиста и сурова. Но одного без второго не бывает и не должно быть.
Читаешь книгу, а тебя будто гладит кто-то добрый и говорит "Ахти! Родное сердце!"
И думаешь, да, мы все родные, мы все оттуда, где хвостом крутит, манит и плещется лосось познания.
И мнится, будто сам ты есть великая рыбина. А отчего же не быть великой рыбиной? Пусть и рыбиной в склерозе.
Но сказания чужой земли разбудят память, станут проводником к сути.
Дружу теперь я с этой книгой. Смеюсь, плачу. Дышу.
И благодарю её создателей – Джеймза Стивенза, Шаши Мартынову, Макса Немцова. Всех тех, через чьё жгучее желание небытие сменилось тем, что книга явилась в мир, – сначала на английском, а после на русском.
Спасибо.
Любовное томление и лёгкое дыхание.
Густо-населённое собрание героев и дивных существ, некогда поцеловавших ирландскую землю в макушку, от того она столь зелена, пушиста и пригожа, пусть и опасна, порывиста и сурова. Но одного без второго не бывает и не должно быть.
Читаешь книгу, а тебя будто гладит кто-то добрый и говорит "Ахти! Родное сердце!"
И думаешь, да, мы все родные, мы все оттуда, где хвостом крутит, манит и плещется лосось познания.
И мнится, будто сам ты есть великая рыбина. А отчего же не быть великой рыбиной? Пусть и рыбиной в склерозе.
Но сказания чужой земли разбудят память, станут проводником к сути.
Дружу теперь я с этой книгой. Смеюсь, плачу. Дышу.
И благодарю её создателей – Джеймза Стивенза, Шаши Мартынову, Макса Немцова. Всех тех, через чьё жгучее желание небытие сменилось тем, что книга явилась в мир, – сначала на английском, а после на русском.
Спасибо.
January 24, 2012
I picked this up because everyone is using Faery in their stories and I wanted to have a better understanding of the mythology that people are (loosely) pulling from. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed these tales.
My favorite aspects of the book as a whole:
Religious Conflict: The conflict is not fighting. It is in the voice of the author, minds of the people and their view of the other. Many of tales have individuals interacting with Christians who are new and different. There is also a melding of religions in some tales where the druids (magicians) participated in Hebrew history.
Irish Nationalism: These tales show how nationalism runs deep well into modern day Ireland.
Pet Names: Sorry, I do not know what else to call it. They would reference people they loved as “O’ my soul” and “O’ my pulse.” These are very unique and they apply to men and women equally.
Imagery: These tales use the most unique and effective imagery and description I have ever read. It was so refreshing.
I loved these tales. They were fun and easy to read. I got it for free on Amazon. This is well worth downloading and reading for fun.
My favorite aspects of the book as a whole:
Religious Conflict: The conflict is not fighting. It is in the voice of the author, minds of the people and their view of the other. Many of tales have individuals interacting with Christians who are new and different. There is also a melding of religions in some tales where the druids (magicians) participated in Hebrew history.
Irish Nationalism: These tales show how nationalism runs deep well into modern day Ireland.
Pet Names: Sorry, I do not know what else to call it. They would reference people they loved as “O’ my soul” and “O’ my pulse.” These are very unique and they apply to men and women equally.
Imagery: These tales use the most unique and effective imagery and description I have ever read. It was so refreshing.
I loved these tales. They were fun and easy to read. I got it for free on Amazon. This is well worth downloading and reading for fun.
October 5, 2015
This was weird. I was expecting Irish Fairy Tales that hopefully could be traced back to other books and so, or that I could match with the few I know myself, it was not. It was mostly tales mixed with Christian beliefs (which looks weird), and mostly about the amazing Fionn.
They don't seem to be together, even though they reccount the life and adventures of Fionn, but every now and then there are stories who have nothing to do with him and that seem disjointed, because I can't put them in.
And then... after realising I probably couldn't take this as proper fairy tales, I decided to take it more lightly, kinda like comedy mixed with tales. It works far better like that, it got funny, it was hilarious and boy I had a laugh.
I particularly like the last story, and the killer sheep. Brownie points for originality there, I would have never thought ot it. XD Sheep killing a whole army. Boy those Irish sheep are sure dangerous.
They don't seem to be together, even though they reccount the life and adventures of Fionn, but every now and then there are stories who have nothing to do with him and that seem disjointed, because I can't put them in.
And then... after realising I probably couldn't take this as proper fairy tales, I decided to take it more lightly, kinda like comedy mixed with tales. It works far better like that, it got funny, it was hilarious and boy I had a laugh.
I particularly like the last story, and the killer sheep. Brownie points for originality there, I would have never thought ot it. XD Sheep killing a whole army. Boy those Irish sheep are sure dangerous.
March 12, 2013
I think I'm going to preface this review with how this came about.
So a good friend of mine recently bought me an eReader, which I'm pretty happy about. The online store for this eReader has a free section that I have taken full advantage of, and this eBook just happened to be one of them. I realized something after I started reading it, that it is highly unlikely that I would have bought this book in a store, and it's also unlikely that I would have picked it up from my local library. So apparently the stars were aligned for this one, all five of them.
When I started reading these Irish Fairy Tales I realized that I was completely ignorant when it comes to Irish folklore, and Celtic folklore in general. Even with a majority of my heritage coming from that region all connections have been lost, and all that's left is my knowledge of common stereotypes, which I'm sure are found to be annoying.
So everything about this book is new to me. These fairy tales are not written for children, which seems to be quite common really. I mean a lot of what we consider to be children's fairy tales are often about serious issues that are not necessarily intended for children.
When Faery is talked about in these tales it's seems to be referring to alternate universes, I think I counted four that were talked about. So the way I understood it was that fairies are from Faery, and people can pass through from one universe to the others.
Anyway, it became quite clear to me as I was reading these tales just how much this folklore has impacted modern Fantasy. If you're into fantasy at all you should consider reading this, just to see the roots. I mean all of these stories are retellings by James Stephens, but the original tales were told a long, long time ago, and were apparently more religious in nature originally. But it's clear that writers like Tolkien were heavily influenced by this history, and I'm really glad that I read it.
So a good friend of mine recently bought me an eReader, which I'm pretty happy about. The online store for this eReader has a free section that I have taken full advantage of, and this eBook just happened to be one of them. I realized something after I started reading it, that it is highly unlikely that I would have bought this book in a store, and it's also unlikely that I would have picked it up from my local library. So apparently the stars were aligned for this one, all five of them.
When I started reading these Irish Fairy Tales I realized that I was completely ignorant when it comes to Irish folklore, and Celtic folklore in general. Even with a majority of my heritage coming from that region all connections have been lost, and all that's left is my knowledge of common stereotypes, which I'm sure are found to be annoying.
So everything about this book is new to me. These fairy tales are not written for children, which seems to be quite common really. I mean a lot of what we consider to be children's fairy tales are often about serious issues that are not necessarily intended for children.
When Faery is talked about in these tales it's seems to be referring to alternate universes, I think I counted four that were talked about. So the way I understood it was that fairies are from Faery, and people can pass through from one universe to the others.
Anyway, it became quite clear to me as I was reading these tales just how much this folklore has impacted modern Fantasy. If you're into fantasy at all you should consider reading this, just to see the roots. I mean all of these stories are retellings by James Stephens, but the original tales were told a long, long time ago, and were apparently more religious in nature originally. But it's clear that writers like Tolkien were heavily influenced by this history, and I'm really glad that I read it.
May 9, 2019
Very earther
I loved reading the myths, greAt use of footnotes. I began to read under the influence of The Beatles, pink Floyd and Peter noone. Very trippy.
I loved reading the myths, greAt use of footnotes. I began to read under the influence of The Beatles, pink Floyd and Peter noone. Very trippy.
April 24, 2021
Чудные сказания, чудный перевод, каждое слово сплошной восторг 😊 очень здорово
June 9, 2021
love me some fairy tales
November 6, 2020
The law of life is change; nothing continues in the
same way for any length of time; happiness must become unhappiness, and
will be succeeded again by the joy it had displaced. The past also must be
reckoned with; it is seldom as far behind us as we could wish: it is more often
in front, blocking the way, and the future trips over it just when we think that
the road is clear and joy our own.
same way for any length of time; happiness must become unhappiness, and
will be succeeded again by the joy it had displaced. The past also must be
reckoned with; it is seldom as far behind us as we could wish: it is more often
in front, blocking the way, and the future trips over it just when we think that
the road is clear and joy our own.
December 21, 2018
«Что за прелесть, эти сказки!», хочется повторять вслед за аспушкиным и бегать в радостном изумлении по поместью. Но поместья нет (зато присутствует кухня, а я до сих пор практикую чтение на полночных кухнях), а радостное изумление — есть. И тут — чуть в сторону — выстраивается картинка неких итогов-2018: лучший роман (как мне кажется, «Остров Сахалин» Веркина), а лучшая книжная серия — сто сорок шесть процентов — «Скрытое золото XX века».
Не было в этом году для меня книги более удивительной и радостной, чем «Ирландские чудные сказания» Джеймза Стивенза. Десять ирландских средневековых преданий, пересказанных в 1920 году Стивензом, и спустя почти 100 лет подаренные русскому читателю творческим союзом Шаши Мартыновой и Максима Немцова — это сказочный подарок каждому, кто ещё помнит алфавит. Благодаря вот такому вневременному содружеству (автора, переводчика и редактора) мир древних сказаний далёкой Ирландии звучит современно, выразительно, ярко. Удивительное сочетание мистики и душевности, иронии и мудрости, доброты и вечности.
Я честно начинал выписывать понравившиеся цитаты, но быстро перестал. Пришлось бы переписывать большую часть книги. Стиль книги заразителен, очень быстро настраиваешься на волну высказываться подобным образом. И дело даже не в том, что в книжке достаёт юмора (куда ж без него, когда речь об Ирландии), а в том как эти фразы построены, и «как вообще там всё»:
«— Я ему покажу чародейство! — гневно воскликнул Финниан. — Где живет этот человек?
Ему сообщили где, и Финниан немедля туда отправился...»
«Перечислил беды, какие обрушатся на негодяя, — и начинался список с порки и завершался лишением членов, а посередине были такие затейливые и изобретательные издевательства, что кровь у людей, слышавших это, стыла в венах, а женщины из домочадцев лишились чувств, не сходя с места...»
«— Ты очень отважен, коли пришёл мне помочь, — пробормотал Фюн, — особенно потому, что никак не способен помочь мне...»
«Хитро это — знать то, что ты знаешь...»
«Воскресное странствие, —продолжал владыка, — всем известное скверное дело. Никакого добра от него...»
« Музыка происходящего — изрёк великий Фюн, — вот что есть лучшая музыка в мире...»
И вот когда читаешь эту книгу, сидя в центре Восточной Сибири, а за окном традиционные минус тридцать, а в колонках «Lunasa» или «Flook» ещё раз убеждаешься, что все границы только в голове, а мир един и прекрасен, и хочется чтобы всё было хорошо...
«Фергус поправился — и тоже зажил себе счастливо...»
Не было в этом году для меня книги более удивительной и радостной, чем «Ирландские чудные сказания» Джеймза Стивенза. Десять ирландских средневековых преданий, пересказанных в 1920 году Стивензом, и спустя почти 100 лет подаренные русскому читателю творческим союзом Шаши Мартыновой и Максима Немцова — это сказочный подарок каждому, кто ещё помнит алфавит. Благодаря вот такому вневременному содружеству (автора, переводчика и редактора) мир древних сказаний далёкой Ирландии звучит современно, выразительно, ярко. Удивительное сочетание мистики и душевности, иронии и мудрости, доброты и вечности.
Я честно начинал выписывать понравившиеся цитаты, но быстро перестал. Пришлось бы переписывать большую часть книги. Стиль книги заразителен, очень быстро настраиваешься на волну высказываться подобным образом. И дело даже не в том, что в книжке достаёт юмора (куда ж без него, когда речь об Ирландии), а в том как эти фразы построены, и «как вообще там всё»:
«— Я ему покажу чародейство! — гневно воскликнул Финниан. — Где живет этот человек?
Ему сообщили где, и Финниан немедля туда отправился...»
«Перечислил беды, какие обрушатся на негодяя, — и начинался список с порки и завершался лишением членов, а посередине были такие затейливые и изобретательные издевательства, что кровь у людей, слышавших это, стыла в венах, а женщины из домочадцев лишились чувств, не сходя с места...»
«— Ты очень отважен, коли пришёл мне помочь, — пробормотал Фюн, — особенно потому, что никак не способен помочь мне...»
«Хитро это — знать то, что ты знаешь...»
«Воскресное странствие, —продолжал владыка, — всем известное скверное дело. Никакого добра от него...»
« Музыка происходящего — изрёк великий Фюн, — вот что есть лучшая музыка в мире...»
И вот когда читаешь эту книгу, сидя в центре Восточной Сибири, а за окном традиционные минус тридцать, а в колонках «Lunasa» или «Flook» ещё раз убеждаешься, что все границы только в голове, а мир един и прекрасен, и хочется чтобы всё было хорошо...
«Фергус поправился — и тоже зажил себе счастливо...»
May 8, 2017
its good to begin an ireland's adventure!
April 12, 2018
A collection of short Irish fairy tales, mostly centred around Fionn and the Fianna.
April 22, 2012
Horrendously slow.
May 30, 2024
4-⭐
Irish fairytales 🧚🏼♀️✨
Una serie di 10 storie leggendarie, dove tradizione e fantasia si incontrano. Fiabe che ripercorrono la storia dell'Irlanda, unite insieme dalla penna di James Stephens, il quale raccoglie il patrimonio dei cantastorie irlandesi e riporta alla luce miti e leggende.
Ho trovato questa lettura molto leggera, ma al tempo stesso estremamente interessante.
Alcune fiabe sono più interessanti di altre e, anche per questo motivo, la scrittura dell'autore è più, o meno scorrevole.
Molto utile sono state le note prima di ogni storia, che aiutano il lettore non irlandese a capire meglio ciò che si sta leggendo.
Le illustrazioni sono un qualcosa di sublime, che rendono la lettura ancora più godibile.
Libro assolutamente consigliato, per chi vuole conoscere le più famose fiabe irlandesi ma anche per chi cerca una lettura leggera.
Ed è proprio vero che: "Esiste più di un mondo, e ogni mondo è, sotto molti riguardi, diverso dall'altro. Ma la gioie e il dolore o, in altre parole, il bene e il male, non mancano in diverso grado in nessuno dei mondi"
🧝🏼♀️🧚🏼♀️☘️🪻✨🩵
Irish fairytales 🧚🏼♀️✨
Una serie di 10 storie leggendarie, dove tradizione e fantasia si incontrano. Fiabe che ripercorrono la storia dell'Irlanda, unite insieme dalla penna di James Stephens, il quale raccoglie il patrimonio dei cantastorie irlandesi e riporta alla luce miti e leggende.
Ho trovato questa lettura molto leggera, ma al tempo stesso estremamente interessante.
Alcune fiabe sono più interessanti di altre e, anche per questo motivo, la scrittura dell'autore è più, o meno scorrevole.
Molto utile sono state le note prima di ogni storia, che aiutano il lettore non irlandese a capire meglio ciò che si sta leggendo.
Le illustrazioni sono un qualcosa di sublime, che rendono la lettura ancora più godibile.
Libro assolutamente consigliato, per chi vuole conoscere le più famose fiabe irlandesi ma anche per chi cerca una lettura leggera.
Ed è proprio vero che: "Esiste più di un mondo, e ogni mondo è, sotto molti riguardi, diverso dall'altro. Ma la gioie e il dolore o, in altre parole, il bene e il male, non mancano in diverso grado in nessuno dei mondi"
🧝🏼♀️🧚🏼♀️☘️🪻✨🩵
February 12, 2022
So this book seemed to be a bit all over the place, with some stories connecting, and others inserted in randomly that appeared to have nothing to do with them. I liked the earthiness to the tales, but the magic seemed arbitrarily applied. Some of the tales were pretty slow, and some very engaging. As you can see, it was all a bit uneven.
The feminist in me hates that the only value women have in any of these takes is their beauty, and if they are good fighters, they’re literally described as hags. And the amount of wife swapping where men trade out or give up their wives without their being consulted or even informed is pretty messed up. I get that these are from a different era, but sheesh. Hard to read at times.
The feminist in me hates that the only value women have in any of these takes is their beauty, and if they are good fighters, they’re literally described as hags. And the amount of wife swapping where men trade out or give up their wives without their being consulted or even informed is pretty messed up. I get that these are from a different era, but sheesh. Hard to read at times.
July 17, 2025
2008 Fall River (Barnes & Noble) reprint of 1920 first edition.
I really enjoyed this book, but it's not really "Fairy Tales" in the sense of folk tales collected orally like the Grimms or the English equivalent, both of which Rackham had illustrated. It's Irish myths, mostly the Fenian Cycle but starting with Tuan mac Cairill, a character from the first Taking of Ireland who kept reincarnating as animals and eventually tells his story to St. Finnian of Moville. Rather than being passed down orally until the early 19th century, these myths have a long written history. Stephens, an author I'd never encountered, retells them in quite lovely English prose.
16 color plates and 20 line drawings by Arthur Rackham.
I really enjoyed this book, but it's not really "Fairy Tales" in the sense of folk tales collected orally like the Grimms or the English equivalent, both of which Rackham had illustrated. It's Irish myths, mostly the Fenian Cycle but starting with Tuan mac Cairill, a character from the first Taking of Ireland who kept reincarnating as animals and eventually tells his story to St. Finnian of Moville. Rather than being passed down orally until the early 19th century, these myths have a long written history. Stephens, an author I'd never encountered, retells them in quite lovely English prose.
16 color plates and 20 line drawings by Arthur Rackham.
March 20, 2021
Questo libro è un vero e proprio viaggio nell'Irlanda leggendaria, le fiabe raccolte sono davvero suggestive e affascinanti. Il lettore si ritroverà a esplorare mondi magici perduti, parteciperà a duelli e banchetti nella leggendaria Tara, incontrerà creature magiche e tremende e vivrà emozionanti avventure in compagnia di guerrieri imbattibili, maghi potenti e donne fatate. Le mie fiabe preferite sono "Becuma dalla pelle bianca", "Il corteggiamento di Becfola" e "La nascita di Bran". Consigliato a tutti gli amanti dell'Irlanda 🇮🇪🍀 o a chi cerca un po' di evasione e magia per sfuggire alla vita di tutti i giorni.
February 14, 2021
A collection of wonderful stories around Fionn mac Cumhaill (aka Finn McCool). This book lets you partake in the Irish folklore tradition. Heroes (and gods) that are, above all, human: No black and white rhetoric; heroic stories of epic characters that love and hate and conquer and fail. If you like the traditional courtly love stories and folklore full of magic and humanity like the Kalevala or the Nibelungen; if you like the great epics that derived from these stories like the Middle Earth tales; then this is a book for you.
October 5, 2023
I really wanted to learn more about Irish culture and folklore (mostly because I am interested to see how it ties into the music Hozier makes). I had previously read Beowulf and it was interesting to see the ideals of that time represented in both books. There were a few stories that overlapped in plot but it made the differences all the more interesting to me. I will be reading a lot of other fairytales in the future from different cultures because I find it fascinating. How people from different areas come to the same conclusion of what achievement is and how it is accomplished.
June 27, 2019
Irish Lore
This was my first exposure to the land of the Faery and the Shi or other world. I found the first story to be very slow moving and debated continuing reading . After doing some research on Irish Folk Lore and on Fionn (Finn ) I decided to continue on with the book.
Although there were parts of the book I found enjoyable it is my hope to do some additional research and find another book to try.
This was my first exposure to the land of the Faery and the Shi or other world. I found the first story to be very slow moving and debated continuing reading . After doing some research on Irish Folk Lore and on Fionn (Finn ) I decided to continue on with the book.
Although there were parts of the book I found enjoyable it is my hope to do some additional research and find another book to try.
August 30, 2023
Non un semplice libro di fiabe illustrato ma una interessante immersione nelle leggende del folcklore nordeuropeo. Il ciclo delle gesta dell'eroe Fionn occupa buona parte dei racconti perlopiù di epoca tardo romana / alto medievale, ambientati in un tempo sospeso e imprecisato prima e dopo l'avvento del cristianesimo. Lasci perdere chi cerca una lettura romantica o per bambini o chi pensa di trovare storie di elfi, fate e folletti. Assomiglia di più alla mitologia!
January 28, 2025
This book was a great chance to get to know traditional Irish fairy tales. Many of the stories either directly focus on Fionn, or exist in his world, a bit like King Arthur. The complexity of the language and the content of the stories suggests this collection is for adults or older children. My favorite tale made me laugh out loud a few times and involves a man who hates dogs coming to fall completely in love with one.
Overall, a good reminder not to get on the bad side of a fairy.
Overall, a good reminder not to get on the bad side of a fairy.
March 22, 2022
This is an extremely well told collection, the most poetic I have ever read (which is saying a very great deal). Irish mythology is also not part of the popular canon, so in addition to enjoying the beautiful prose you are surprised at every turn. Arthur Rackham manages to draw convincing, beautiful, images of Faery, if you are not a total, total purist.
January 27, 2023
10 corny tales of old Ireland
10 stories of Finn and other champions of Ireland and Faery. Some tales are good and some are corny. But over all a fun read.
I liked the description of Conaran's daughters in "The Enchanted Cave of Crab Corran". As I imagine these girls, I had to laugh.
Full of adventure, magic, love, and betrayal.
10 stories of Finn and other champions of Ireland and Faery. Some tales are good and some are corny. But over all a fun read.
I liked the description of Conaran's daughters in "The Enchanted Cave of Crab Corran". As I imagine these girls, I had to laugh.
Full of adventure, magic, love, and betrayal.
Want to read
April 26, 2024___________________________________
FROM BOOK: The Passenger #17 Irlanda (William Atkins, Ursula Barry, Sara Baume, Mark Devenport, Catherine Dunne, Brendan Fanning, Keiran Goddard, Caelainn Hogan, Manchán Magan, Colum McCann, Lyra Mckee, Mark O'Connell, Lisa McInerney, Mirko Zilahy)
FROM BOOK: The Passenger #17 Irlanda (William Atkins, Ursula Barry, Sara Baume, Mark Devenport, Catherine Dunne, Brendan Fanning, Keiran Goddard, Caelainn Hogan, Manchán Magan, Colum McCann, Lyra Mckee, Mark O'Connell, Lisa McInerney, Mirko Zilahy)
July 1, 2020
I love fairy tales. The first "fairy tale" in this collection is the classic Christian fable of a "saint" of a priest converting the interesting, magical character to Christianity, thus saving his ignorant soul. Hard pass. The title should be "Christianized retellings of Irish Fairy Tales".
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