He Stands Alone: The Fifth Book of the Ulster Cycle (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "The story of the birth of Cuchulainn exists in several recensions, one alleged to have been transcribed from the now lost Book of Druimm Snechtai,..." (more)
Key Phrases: imbas forasnai, gae bulga, quatrain stanza, Emain Macha, Red Branch, Conall Cernach (more...)

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
-- Review

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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: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,657,670 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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 (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

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 It was a good death., May 20, 2007

By	Carter Harrison "C. Harrison" (London, England) - See all my reviews

Eickhoff's works are all very well done. This work is no exception. He has taken the Celtic epic the Tain and dissected the work, giving it a proper and detailed treatment in telling the tales of Cuchullain, the Hound of Ulster, the single most important hero in Irish myth/history. I recommend getting all these books in the Ulster Cycle in hardback form because you will want to keep these and display them, then reread them again in a few years. Excellent work.