The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne / The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu

by Standish H. O'Grady, Arthur Herbert Leahy (Translator), T.E. Kinsella (Introduction)

For a thousand years and more audiences have delighted in these Irish tales, wondering at the elopement of the impetuous Grainne with the heroic Diarmuid and heartbroken by the fateful flight of Deirdre. Two strong women take control of their destinies and both pay grievous prices.

Genres: Classics, Mythology, Ireland, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Do not confuse with cousin Standish James O'Grady.

Standish Hayes O'Grady was an Irish antiquarian. The son of Hayes O'Grady, admiral. He was a cousin of the writer Standish James O'Grady, with whom he is sometimes confused. As a child, he learnt Irish from the native speakers of his locality. He was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College Dublin.

Although qualified as a civil engineer, he is best remembered for Silva Gadelica (two vols, 1892), a collection of tales from ancient Irish manuscripts. He was a friend of antiquaries John O'Donovan and Eugene O'Curry. In 1853 he became a founding member of the Ossianic Society. He would later become its president in 1855. In 1857 he moved to the United States of America where he remained for 30 years. In 1901 he contributed an essay on Anglo-Irish Aristocracy to a collection entitled Ideals in Ireland edited by Lady Augusta Gregory.

He died in England in 1915. His Catalogue of the Irish Manuscripts in the British Museum was unfinished on his death and was completed by Robin Flower.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this strange, quirky tale. I must admit that I edited this edition, and in so doing probably read it through 50 times or more. If you like old Irish literature -- stuff like the Ulster Cycle -- while this is a bit newer in time, it's still plenty repetitive, details, and lovely in its oddity.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne"
It is a tough gig for a guy who gets chosen by the royal maintain and has to break vows either to his commander or his queen. The gods enable this Aragorn-type hero. ****
...
The Fenian Cycle (or Ossianic Cycle, after its narrator Oisín) is a body of prose and verse centring on the exploits of the mythical hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warriors the Fianna.

Tales of testosterone, alpha-male ambition and easily offended kings, queens and warriors.
Fun to read! ****

{These stories tell of tests accomplished by Finn and the Fianna. It is one of the four major cycles of Irish mythology along with the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle, and the Historical Cycle. Put in chronological order, the Fenian cycle is the third cycle, between the Ulster and Historical cycles. The cycle also contains stories about other famous Fianna members, including Diarmuid, Caílte, Oisín's son Oscar, and Fionn's enemy Goll mac Morna.}

[jenifer battye · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long for such a simplified story and too many translation notes that did nothing more than make me lose focus on the story.

[Arin · Rating 3 out of 5]

read only Exile of the Sons of Uisliu