Irish Tales and Sagas [Hardcover]

Ulick O'Connor (Editor), Pauline Bewick (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

O'Connor evokes the glory days of Ireland past, when the Celtic King Conor ruled Ulster and the 12 Knights of the Red Branch, the most famous of whom was Cuchulain, sat at his court. These tales belong to the magical world of fairy tales: Cuchulain's mother is transformed into a beautiful bird by the god Lu, and flies away to Fairyland. Cuchulain was the ideal hero, handsome and wise and brave. The first of these seven tales relates the life and death of Cuchulain (betrayed to his enemies by means of a magic spell). Other stories tell of the Tuatha de Danaan, who lived in Ireland before the Gaels; of the beautiful Deirdre and the tragedy wrought by her beauty; of druids and St. Patrick. Bewick's enchanting illustrations echo the magical, far-away time of these lovely tales.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Town House (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0948524596
• ISBN-13: 978-0948524592
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,949,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Weird Magic, May 24, 2000

By 

Erin A. Bow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irish Tales and Sagas (Hardcover)

I've been frustrated for a while in trying to find a book recounting Irish tales that lives up to the weird magic of its source material. Here it is at last. The book effortlessly captures the deep Christianity and deeper magic of the best Irish stories. And the language is perfect--it's hard to believe this book is less than ten years old. It might be pushing a thousand. And yet it's as readable as a bedtime story. If you liked the Tain, you'll like this. If you liked Froud's Fairies, you'll like this. If--like me--you liked both, you'll be in heaven.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beatiful Book, January 1, 2012

By 

Joe Keenan (Norwood, Pa.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Irish Tales and Sagas (Paperback)

Ulick O'Connor does a great job in retelling some of the ancient Irish myths and tales, among them, Cuchulain and the Hero's of the Red Branch, The Fate of the Children of Lir, Deirdre and the Son's of Usna, St Patrick, The Druid and his Soul, Ossian's Return From Tir na n-og and The Countess Cathleen O'Shea. Be aware though this isn't a Lady Gregory like retelling, this book is geared for children but because O'Connor doesn't condescend to them like many storytellers do this book can be appreciated by adults too. The moral of each story is as plainly presented as the prose is reserved. In a lesser talents hands these qualities might be regarded as a shortcoming, O'Connor however, pulls it off.

Add in beautifully evocative art by Pauline Bewick and you have a beautiful little book (96 pages). My only complaints are, the book is too short and the artwork seems to be not for sale. I was so impressed by Bewick's art I looked her up and while she has many beautiful things for sale I do not see any from the book! No, Bull, no, Cuchulain against the sea, too bad as these would make beautiful prints! Regardless of all that, this is a beautifully done childrens book, it's successful on every level.