An Rí agus an Féileacán

by Máire Zepf, Shona Shirley Macdonald (Illustrator)

Tá scéal Éadaoin agus Mhír á insint in Éirinn le breis mhaith agus míle bliain.

Baineann Máire Zepf casadh nua as an seanscéal ina leagan sise agus tugtar draíocht

na samhlaíochta Gaelaí chun beatha in ealaín aoibhinn Shona Shirley Macdonald.

Hardcover

Reviews

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich in symbolism and history, this is a stunning retelling. The beauty and lyricism of the Irish language sings it into being, capturing all the mysticism and magic of the legend.* While holding fast to the old story, it refreshes the tale, allowing the reader to bring a contemporary sensibility to it and see it through a clean set of eyes. And isn't this what revisiting myths, legends and fairy/folk tales is supposed to do...open the story again so that we, the readers can absorb them back into ourselves and receive a fresh vantage point; a new understanding. An Féileacán agus an Rí is at once ancient and new, arriving again to mesmerise us and give us a marvelous, insightful story to make our own.
But, it is the illustrations that 'made' this book for me. I have read (and heard) a number of versions of this legend...but never like this. Evocative and atmospheric, it is exquisite. With a rich, jewel-like colour palette and dynamic movement, the reader finds themselves immersed completely in the journey. You become swept away on the swirling winds, emerge into Éadaions' dreams, sense the solidity and the texture of the land and receive full impact of the jealousy, determination, exhaustion, relief and joy of the characters when you look, really look at the illustrations. Through the illustrations themselves, you can 'read' the book and understand it fully. The impact to the senses cannot be underestimated here.
As a complete package, language and illustrations taken hand-in-hand, An Féileacán agus an Rí is a remarkable picture book, demonstrating the very best of what it means to bring legends home.

[E. Thomas]

Ar fheabhas!