He Stands Alone: The Fifth Book of the Ulster Cycle [Hardcover]

Randy Lee Eickhoff (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ulster Cycle | Publication Date: March 6, 2002

Randy Lee Eickhoff, the award-winning translator of the epic Ulster Cycle, continues his retelling of Ireland's spellbinding history and folklore in He Stands Alone. For the very first time, Randy Lee Eickhoff has combined several translations of the tale of the Irish Achilles, Cuchulainn, to provide a new and searching look at the warrior whose dedication to his country became the inspiration for Irish rebels in 1916, providing them with a rallying cry heard throughout all of Ireland.

Beginning with Cuchulainn's mysterious birth, Eickhoff skillfully weaves the tale of the magical warrior; from his training with Scathach, the dreaded woman warrior, to his first encounter with the war-goddess, Morigan, a story that foreshadows Cuchulainn's heroic action the Cattle Raid of Cooley.

Cuchulainn's adventures unfold as he grows in battle to become the king's champion, but, all the while, he struggles with his mortal side, and with human failings that inevitably draw him away from his wife, Emer, and under the spell of the mystical Fand, wife of the Irish sea-god, Manannan Mac Lir.

In a style that is often compared to Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney's, Randy Lee Eickhoff demonstrates his knowledge and storytelling ability and once again introduces readers to a truly fascinating aspect of Irish mythology with He Stands Alone.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

One of the foremost authorities on the literary tradition of ancient Irish myths and legends takes an in-depth look at Ireland's chief hero, Cuchulainn. This fifth installment of the Ulster Cycle (after The Destruction of the Inn) is a series of interlocking stories that covers his life from birth to a battle with spirits from the underworld. Cuchulainn's warrior training parallels that of many legends from different cultures as he undergoes a series of tests of his ability to hunt, fight and earn the admiration of the fair sex. The most compelling chapters deal with his romance with Emer, starting with a courtship story in which the two would-be lovers invent a private, romantic language. Emer proves to be a worthy foil for Cuchulainn as their love evolves: she cautions him against doing battle with his impetuous son in what proves to be a tragic incident, then she tries to spark him in his fight against the demons. As usual, Eickhoff offers a series of effective explanations and footnotes on the background and origin of his various yarns, but the decision to break up the book into separate stories proves to be more problematic, robbing it of some narrative momentum and making for a choppy read. Those issues probably won't matter much to readers who follow Eickhoff and love the Irish mythic tradition, and overall Cuchulainn is brought admirably to life.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Terrific verse that may remind some of Seamus Heaney's brookwater Anglo-Saxon in his recent Beowulf."-Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (March 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312870213
• ISBN-13: 978-0312870218
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging vignettes starring Cuchulainn, March 2, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: He Stands Alone: The Fifth Book of the Ulster Cycle (Hardcover)

Dr. Randy Lee Eickhoff's fifth Ulster Cycle book provides his fans the story of legendary Irish warrior Cuchulainn, who served as the rallying cry for the 1916 rebellion. HE STANDS ALONE is a series of vignettes as opposed to a novel; thus readers obtain more tales, but will find difficulty with the flow and transition between the stories. Each contribution is fascinating on its own so that the book should be treated like a short story collection. The tales involving the hero's warrior training and subsequent battles are exciting and insightful, but it is the romance with Emer that engages the audience. The notes provide scholarly insight for those who enjoy a bit more. Dr. Eickhoff will elate his audience with his latest Ulster tale.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Work, April 23, 2002

By 

Dr Robert Trent (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: He Stands Alone: The Fifth Book of the Ulster Cycle (Hardcover)

It is extremely difficult for one to become as immersed in a culture as complicated as Ancient Ireland, but I must say that Randy Eickhoff has emerged as what I would call the authority on The Ulster Cycle. The prolegomenons with which he introduces each work in the cycle are succinct observations that are made with the clarity of a seasoned scholar and his treatment of the texts is unique and priceless to the scholar. Eickhoff shows an incredible insight into the language, art form, and historical ambience of the period and is such that I would dearly love to hear him deliver a series of lectures upon this subject. I have heard his lecture on Interpolator H and was mesmorized by his distinct grasp of this complicated problem that exists within corrupted texts. When I accessed the his website and discovered the depth of his scholarship and his extremely prolific output, I was thoroughly amazed. The label "genius" was become too common to use lately but I would not hesitate at all to apply it to Eickhoff and his capabilities as a translator. He is breaking new ground with his intrinsic application of the translator's art and must be admired for his daring and innovation.

5.0 out of 5 stars He Stands Alone, May 31, 2010

By 

Charles J. Kilker - See all my reviews
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This review is from: He Stands Alone: The Fifth Book of the Ulster Cycle (Paperback)

5th book in the Ulster Saga by Eickhoff. He does a very nice job of updating the Irish Myths & Legends. Good turnaround.