A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend and Folklore

by Lady Gregory (Editor)

Two milestones of folklore by giants of the Irish Renaissance: Yeats's anthology of magical Irish tales and Lady Gregory's retelling of the myth of Ireland's national hero. B&W illus.

Genres: Mythology, Ireland, Irish Literature, Folklore, Fantasy, Fiction, Fairy Tales

704 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1899

About the author

Irish playwright Lady Isabella Augusta Persse Gregory wrote a number of short plays, including Spreading the News (1904) for the Abbey theater, which she founded and directed from 1904 to 1928.

This Irish dramatist and folklorist with William Butler Yeats and other persons co-founded the Irish literary theatre and wrote numerous short works for both companies. Lady Gregory produced a number of books retelling stories taken from Irish mythology.

Reviews

[Sreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Ireland, storytelling is not just an art form, it is a way of connecting with the soul of a nation, preserving its history, and passing down the wisdom of generations."

An enchanting journey into the rich tapestry of Irish mythology. From mythical heroes to magical creatures, this book captures the essence of Ireland's captivating folklore.

The author skillfully weaves together tales of bravery, love, and adventure, transporting readers to a realm where ancient legends come alive. 🦄

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for years and still haven't been able to finish it. It seems that every time I try to get back to it, something else intervenes, whether it is schoolwork or my job. However, that fact does not detract from the fact that this is an amazing collection of Irish myths and legends, most of which are short enough to read a few at a time and not suffer for not being able to devote an extended amount of time to reading the entire book.

[Lekeisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read over half of this book and enjoyed what I finished. 3 stars will suffice. Still, I'm adding this to my DNF shelf until I get the urge to read some more. These Celtic names are a bitch to pronounce and that's why it has taken me over a year to even read nearly 500 of the 700+ pages. Sue me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this is essentially a collection of folklore tales from Ireland which is basically two of my favourite things to read about so, as you can imagine I was very happy to come across this collection. And it was written by W.B. Yeats who happens to be my favourite poet too! Winner winner!

These are short enough that you can read more than one in one sitting, and if you’re like me and you don’t have a lot of work going on at the moment, you might even be able to read the whole thing in one day.

[Ayne Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not long after beginning to read Joseph Campbell’s works on comparative mythologies I moved to Northern Ireland to study Irish literature and theatre. I’ve been a tremendous fan of Irish mythology since; it’s such a beautiful, ancient culture steeped in rich tradition and imagination. This book is written by famed scholar, poet, and dramatist William Butler Yeats, a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival whose works are heavily influenced by Irish folklore.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like 1001 Arabian Nights - this book has some shining examples of beautiful lore, prose, imaginative beauty...but some just sound like each other.... My favorites are those with St Patrick - the blending of Roman Catholicism with the Pagan religions are deceptively beautful and show how easily old traditions were eclipsed.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good choice for readers who have an interest in the history or mythology of the Irish Celts, or an interest in stories of the fair folk or witchcraft more broadly.

Full review at Lone Star on a Lark

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent source for Irish folktales and a fair overview of the Ulster Cycle of Irish myth. In both sections, a rhythm unlike our own but not unpleasant is contained in the text. It calls one out of the present and into ages past where heroes rode through fords, witches steal milk, and geese fly in two with silver chains between them.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took longer to get through than I thought it would, but a great collection. 4.5 stars.

[Charley Rains · Rating 1 out of 5]

Man, I tried.....

[Marcelina Kszczot · Rating 5 out of 5]

so entertaining to read , never get bored

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of Irish short stories - Happy St. Patty's day!

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful book filled with magical and mystical tales from the most magical place on earth.

[John]

Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend & Folklore by William Butler Yeats (1988)

[Lótë (Iris) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing book. I truly loved reading it.

[Aaditgandhi]

coolbook