Finn Mac Cool

Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn #4

by Morgan Llywelyn, Mil Nicholson (Narrator)

A New York Times bestselling author “offers a fresh view” that “will appeal to readers of romance, history, and swashbucklers alike” (Library Journal) in this reimagining of the life of Finn Mac Cool, an Irishman who rose above his humble beginnings to become a legendary warrior. “Full of color and poetry and the wonderful flavor of real Irish speech” (Booklist).

Somewhere in the shadowy borderland between myth and history lies the territory of Finn Mac Cool. Mightiest of the Irish heroes, leader of the invincible army of Fianna, he was a man of many warrior, poet, lover, creator, and destroyer. Finn Mac Cool is a man taken from one of the lowest classes of Irish society, driven by ambition and strength to rise above his birth and bring new respect and status to his people.

He had it all and lost it all, but in the end he gained immortality. Finn Mac Cool is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and awesome adventure.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Ireland, Historical, Mythology, Irish Literature

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Morgan Llywelyn (born 1937) is an American-born Irish author best known for her historical fantasy, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction. Her fiction has received several awards and has sold more than 40 million copies, and she herself is recipient of the 1999 Exceptional Celtic Woman of the Year Award from Celtic Women International.

Reviews

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan Llywelyn writes historical fiction based on figures from Irish history and so called myth. This one is based on the Finn Mac Cool legends. I thought it was worth reading but not nearly as good as Lion of Ireland or Red Branch. She throws in a lot of silly crap like Finn Mac Cool having problems with premature ejaculation! However whats good in this is really good so its certainly of interest to any Celtophile, or if you like fantasy or mythology.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, Morgan Llywelyn takes Irish folk hero Finn Mac Cool and puts him in a historical context, explaining how he grew to be a larger-than-life figure in folklore. I read this book in a week, which is incredibly fast for me; Llywelyn has a quick and smooth writing style that immediately draws you in and doesn't relent until the final page. All of the characters felt real and tangible, and Llywelyn does an excellent job of portraying many of her characters - even the minor ones - in such a way that readers can understand and sympathize with them almost immediately.

Readers who know nothing about Finn Mac Cool can enjoy this novel just as much as those who are familiar with Finn's story and the lore behind him, since Llyweyln essentially strips the layers of myth from her hero. The story follows Finn as he joins the fianna (army) and then becomes Rigfennid Fianna (leader of the army). As Rigfennid, Finn transforms the fianna from a ragtag group of soldiers at the bottom of society, raising them up to become extremely well-respected and well-looked upon. Over the years, the fianna unites many areas of the country and brings peace to the land, but it comes at a cost to Finn's personal life when his wife and young son are taken from him.

I enjoyed every second of this book, and teared up a little when I reached the final page - partly because of the way that it ends, and partly because I was sad to lose Finn Mac Cool as a companion.

[Vittoria Liant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davvero, davvero bello questo libro che affonda le sue origini nella mitologia celtica. Qui si narra la storia di un uomo che è diventato una leggenda e noi, da bravi spettatori assistiamo a come questa leggenda sia nata. Conosciamo Finn attraverso i suoi stessi occhi e partecipiamo all'intricato intreccio che sono verità è leggenda, fatti e magia, che aleggiano intorno a questo straordinario personaggio. La Llywelyn ha saputo creare un personaggio ricco di sfaccettature ed intensità che non potrebbe essere più vero neppure se lo si potesse guardare negli occhi. La sua tenacia mia sta a cocciutaggine, la sua forza mista a fortuna, la sua rigidità a nascondere infinito amore e dolcezza, il suo superare i limiti fisici e l'ammontare di poetica magia le sue imprese, tutto, gioie e dolori hanno creato il mito di Finn Mac Cool, uomo o leggenda che sia.

[Finnegan White · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book overall. Unfortunately it feels like it was written by Finn’s therapist or something. Not a single battle is covered and the author always tells and never shows. It’s basically ancient Celtic twilight. The author cares far more about interpersonal relationships and romance than about the history of Finn and the Fianna.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finn Mac Cool is an amazing rendition of the famous Celtic warrior. Morgan Llewelyn takes you through a journey with her magical writing and I loved every minute of it.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting book. I love the myths and legends of Ireland! To this day, I remember the way the men ran for days in this book every time I run anywhere (OK, that isn't very often, but hey!). I enjoyed the characters in this book and the magic of Ireland.

[Brian O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The man and the myth. Here Llywelyn takes on the task of making this a believable work of historical fiction while also staying true to Finn’s roots in Irish mythology, and it honestly works quite well.

Finn’s legends are famous, from the catching of the salmon of knowledge to slaying the firebreather, and here Finn, using his gifts as a poet, deftly weaves a tapestry of something more than a man. He tells tall tales in order to rise through the ranks of the Fianna, eventually taking them into a golden age as their leader.

While this all sounds well and good, this depiction of Finn is beset with as much pain, loss and tragedy as he is with fame, success and glory.

Good book if you’re into Irish mythology, the idea of extracting a realistic version of events from the legends surrounding the man is an interesting one.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

IMHO, even though Ms. Llywelyn has "adopted" Ireland over her native Wales, she is probably the best "fictional history" author of Irish myths and legends out there.

Here, she has brought the tales and myths of the great warrior, Finn Mac Cool (Chuchulain), together in a way that makes the myths more easy to understand by giving you the landscape, context and background of the country and times.

Myths and legends - by the mere fact that they were almost wiped out by Christianity via absorbtion or by prohibition - are, at best, mere sketches. Morgan Llywelyn colors in the lines and makes it come alive, but without overly-romanticising the characters. She leaves in the flaws, the pride, the jealousy of all the "heroes" and how it leads to their downfall.

If you have trouble understanding the myths, I would read these books (though Ms. Llywelyn's "pronunciation guide" is a tad flawed and I have been corrected by more than one gaelic-speaking person of Irish descent on many occasions - to the point where I picked up a Rosetta Stone program to learn the language).

For those that want an easy way to study Irish Mythology, this series of books might be a good start.

[Douglas Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoyed the story. It's fascinating to read a fictional story about a tremendously popular historical personage. I find myself wondering if what I am reading is documented in history, or just part of the fictional packaging. The author provided a fairly extensive bibliography.

The hero (the great Finn Mac Cool) is rather an anti-climactic and a-historic personality in the story. He was clearly a gifted, charismatic and exceptional man - and yet the end of his life is so disappointing for someone of his potential. Moreover - the story is interwoven with both mythical elements (visions, magical wife)as well as a clear skepticism as part of the plot which causes the telling of the story to feel neither true fiction (because of what feels like a fear to unapologeticcally present the fantastic) nor history (because the story teases with the possibility that maybe part of it may be true).

I'm glad I read it, but can't ever imagine being able to make myself read it again.

[Terzah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really want to read a good retelling of Irish legend, but this book wasn't it. There were sparks of humor, sparks of good characterization, sparks of mystery and the thrill you get in your bones when an old old tale is retold well--in other words, sparks of what I am looking for--but they were just sparks. As a whole, I was left flat. I also must confess that the author note on the jacket--pointing out the author's lofty IQ and membership in Mensa--may have biased me against the book from the beginning. So I'm still on the hunt. If anyone out there has a good Irish-flavored tale for me, let me know!

[Silly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good but i felt like the ending was very half done. I was pretty disappointed after being so enthralled and in love with this book, and then to have it just kind of trail off was upsetting. I would still recommend it, just be prepared.

[Alethea Hammer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A re-telling of the Celtic legend in more human terms. Rather the same approach Mary Stewart used in her Merlyn Trilogy. I didn't really enjoy it as much, perhaps because I was less familiar with the various versions of the Finn Mac Cool legend.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn Mac Cool is a man who became a legend, whose life story grew beyond the realm of history and into myth itself. Finn has been described as “the mightiest of all Irish heroes.” He was born as one of the lowest members of ancient Irish society, raised by foster parents and apprenticed to a local poet. He grew to become the legendary leader of the first army of Ireland – and much more.

For fans of Historical Fiction, Morgan Llywelyn’s books are must reads. Her works span much of Ireland’s rich history and heritage, with many early novels focusing on ancient times, kings and heroes, while some of her later ones deal with the 20th Century. I’m a big fan of the former, and her story of mythic warrior poet Finn Mac Cuhuil.

Alongside plenty of action with Finn leading the Fianna (army) throughout the country dealing with roaming bandits, there are family struggles and a touch of the magical as well. At one point Finn offends the Sidhe (people of the hills, a.k.a. faeries) and his wife and son are taken away from him. Finn succumbs to madness for a while, but eventually regains his senses and falls in love with the High King’s daughter, Grania, who elopes with the handsome Diarmait. But the happy couple won’t be happy for long, and neither will Goll Mac Morna, the man who slew Finn’s father, when revenge is sought by our hero.

When I first discovered Morgan Llywelyn’s writing, I devoured just about everything she had written, even special ordering several titles which were not readily stocked on the bookstore shelves. Previously, I had read mostly Sci-Fi & Fantasy, so Llywelyn was one of my first encounters with Historical Fiction (along with James Michener, who focuses on places rather than people). It may not be St. Patrick’s Day anytime soon, but this throughly researched novel is sure to transport you back to ancient Ireland.

If you enjoy this book, you’ll also like Llywelyn’s Bard: the Odyssey of the Irish, and Lion of Ireland. Llywelyn’s forthcoming novel (February 2010) Brendan, is about Brendan of Clonfert, one of Ireland’s most beloved saints. Two other authors you may enjoy are Stephen R. Lawhead and Edward Rutherfurd.

[MnemosynesCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn Mac Cool was, for me, a riveting read. Although it is fiction and should be taken as such, it serves both as a good introduction to Irish history and mythology and as an attempt to somewhat disect the mythos surrounding one of Ireland's most venerated heroes.

Morgan Llywelyn plays with the various legends about the great man, offering realistic scenarios that are then spun by Finn or others to make him seem supernatural or just superhuman. Unfortunately, the problems really start when he begins to shatter the real/imaginary boundaries for himself...

The novel does not end when Finn reaches his goals or finds happiness; rather, Llywelyn follows the title character on a spiral into insanity and decline. Having had multiple family members struggle and eventually succumb to mental illness, I felt an almost permamnet knot in my stomache reading through the last sections of the book. It is painted mostly through Finn's vision of the world, which becomes more and more painful, isolated and desperate as it becomes more twisted from reality.

This book became one of my husband's favorites in early middle school (he found it in the school library). While I can definitely understand its appeal for a preteen boy who loves history and reading about heroes, it is sexually graphic at times and has other adult themes (incest, rape, mental illness and of course war to name a few) so I would warn parents to read it before they decide it's okay for their child.

[Keith B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by Irish folklore since my teens. Read this when it was first published and recently dug through some old books and dove back in. Llyewelyn does a great job of bringing the legends to life with a hint of magic/fantasy but never crossing over to it explicitly. She blurs reality to make it seem magical; it's all in the perception.

[Dawn Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Medieval myths could be construed as a kind of an early (very early) form of "reality" entertainment, so full of oversized characters, fantastic feats, extraordinary coincidences often mysterious and surreal. They pit man against man, man against nature, and man against himself simultaneously. This is what we get in this novel, named for the legendary Irish mythical hero, Finn Mac Cool.

Based on this legendary hero from the Fenian Cycle of Irish folklore, it paints an in-depth picture of the complicated and painful life of Finn, from the conditions of his birth through the trials of his place in society and across the arch of his obsessive commitment to "becoming someone" of influence and esteem.

This is a fascinating and beautifully written portrait of a man of principle, sensitivity, ferocity, loyalty, and despair. The Medieval Ages were a real time of real challenges to the human condition, power struggles, standards of honor and chivalry, and daily uncertainty. This book is a reminder of what it was like then, how human beings managed in spite of the harrowing conditions, and how myths arise. It is a book that, if we take the time, gets us to examine where we are today and to extent to which we have or haven't made progress. And, it is also a wild, adventure-filled ride!

[Richelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always see references to Finn Mac Cool, but I didn't really know much about who he was or what he did. It was very interesting to see how the author crafted this legendary ancient Celtic figure into life. I learned a lot about how the Celtic tribes were run and how Finn was in charge of the High King's warriors at one time. It was interesting to learn about Brehon law and their different degrees of marriage and other types of laws of that time. Finn was a warrior and poet and leader. He had a vision of who he was and then he made people believe that vision through his storytelling. The book shows how the legend of who he was grew through being passed along through the medium of stories. I liked the element of magic, how it was real and yet the book was never "fantasy." It was always realistic and believable. It was quite a long story and it did get slow a few times. I didn't like the end, it just fizzled for me. I'm glad I know who Finn Mac Cool is now though, it was well worth my effort to read. I already saw his name in another totally unrelated book I'm currently reading, so now I'll understand who they're referencing.

[Jonathan Olivier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent historical fantasy/fiction but not a great one. The idea was to map the rise and fall of Finn Mac Cool, the legendary Irish warrior poet, while attempting to separate the man and the myth.

The first 1/3 of the book Finn shines. For the last 2/3 you are trudged through his various romance/marriage troubles, fading sanity and declining strength. That is a long portion to have to read with the battles already won, the fame already achieved, and nothing of great note taking place except that Finn was borderline neurotic about finding his lost deer/wife. The main antagonist, if you can call Goll Mac Morna that, isn't confronted until both he and Finn were so old and useless that it made it almost not worth finding out who won.

The character journey was well told, as it is as close to truth as any legendary character can be brought to life, but the decline was far longer and more detailed than the rise and it leaves one with a flat feeling upon setting down the book. Perhaps this kind of historical fiction is something I should avoid in the future as I felt much the same about, "The Once and Future King."

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clunky, stilted and boring. Poorly told story, flat characters, and dialogue straight out of a Hollywood B movie. I couldn't take it any longer or stay awake and have up before I started hating Irish legends as much as I hated the author for butchering them to a yawning end.

[Josh Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sceptical about this book when I first picked it up, but if was a great book. Morgan Llywelyn took the mythical tales of the Tuatha de dannan and bent some reality about their feats, she took the stories of Fionn MacChumhail and put a wonderful spin on some fairly fantastic and unbelievable actions. Excellent job of combing the mythos with more realistic reasoning to give a possible explanation for the tales, without ever truly harming the tales beneath. She made the hero into a man, and made the man take the journey to becomming a legend. I highly recommend this book if you've ever had an interest in Irish folklore.

[Gloria Clark]

Well written, but strange and a little sad. It seems to be an interpretation of the tales of Finn Mac Cool told in such a way as to virtually eliminate all of the magic and heroism of the traditional tales. It leaves the hero something of a lost, lonesome, inexplicably tormented child. Finn Mac Cool is painted as a man who spent his entire life attempting to compensate for the absence of his parents, specifically his abandonment at the hands of his mother and struggling, in many ways, to rewrite his own history so that he can overcome his inherent low birth and fight off the unshakable feeling of inadequacy.

[Tommy /|\ · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am a huge fan of Llewelyn's - and very into the mythologies related to the Celts, I was initially disappointed with this novel. Through the first 100 to 150 pages - I found the story wandering a great deal with no strong focus. However, once the story gets rolling -- it definitely gets rolling, and I was sucked straight in. The last two-thirds of the book were very difficult to put down - and I found myself with a great deal of empathy for the main character throughout. The detail of the story is wonderful and the character development is absolutely wonderful - as I have come to expect from a Llewelyn novel.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. Finn MacCool starts very slowly for me. It took me a while to get into the story proper. I found the book to have a lot of filler that was a little ridiculous and unnecessary; overall it was very hit and miss. The core myths relating to Fionn MacCumhaill are what make this more than a decent work of fiction. The stories are (for anyone who knows them) captivating and awe-inspiring. Llywelyn captures the magic of the tales and presents them well. This book is a good yarn overall despite odd additions such as Fionn's "sexual troubles" and the anglicisation of all the characters names.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

It helps to know several of the Finn Mac Cool (Fionn mac Comhaill) myths before starting this booth. Morgan Llywelyn spins fascinating story-behind-the-story explanations as to how Finn became larger than life. What's more, we find a bit of ourselves in the, complex, flawed, likable, tragic hero. Llywelyn also manages to leave just enough mystery, not allowing our modern sandpaper eyes to rub all of the luster from the mysterious world we live in. I have read a lot of Morgan Llywelyn and I say this is her best so far.

[Paigersoccerfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this book. It seemed to take me quite awhile to get into it. For me it was somewhat similar to Juliet Marrillier's books, in that is was taking a legend and telling how it could have come about. I knew nothing about the mythical Finn Mac Cool before reading this. I enjoyed this book, and even cried at the end which surprised me.

[Laurie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Morgan Llwelyn's LION OF IRELAND when I was in high school. I have been a Llwelyn fan ever since. I like the flesh and blood Finn Mac Cool she presents, including his flaws. He is a very plausible human being in this version instead of a larger than life character. I also enjoyed rich the historical context.

[Justin Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and was really not sure what to expect. I'd love to know how much of this is actually true about the person Finn Mac Cool but the author does an excellent job of making you love, hate, and feel truly sorry for several of the characters. Great read if you're interested in plausible stories of a historical character.

[Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn MacCool is one of the many characters in Irish history that is part real human, part myth, with little to no known separation between the two. Another interesting read by Llywelyn, weaving together the numerous myths, legends, and historical facts into one fascinating story.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually I get hooked off of the back page description of the book, but this one left everything up to the imagination. It ended up being a really good story that keeps you guessing as to what is fantasy and what is reality.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as straight-up entertainment value and engaging storytelling - well, it was just allright. But taking a step back and looking at the story in a broader sense, this is a story about change and loss and is truly heartbreaking.