Product Description

First written down in the eighth century AD, these early Irish stories depict a far older world – part myth, part legend and part history. Rich with magic and achingly beautiful, they speak of a land of heroic battles, intense love and warrior ideals, in which the otherworld is explored and men mingle freely with the gods. From the vivid adventures of the great Celtic hero Cu Chulaind, to the stunning ‘Exile of the Sons of Uisliu’ – a tale of treachery, honour and romance – these are masterpieces of passion and vitality, and form the foundation for the Irish literary tradition: a mythic legacy that was a powerful influence on the work of Yeats, Synge and Joyce.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97563 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Jeffrey Gantz received a doctorial degree in Celtic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he works as a newspaper editor and journalist. He has also translated The Mabinogion for Penguin Classics. Jeffrey Gantz received a doctorial degree in Celtic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he works as a newspaper editor and journalist. He has also translated The Mabinogion for Penguin Classics.

Customer Reviews

Another Classic From Penguin
Jeffrey Gantz’s translation of The Mabinogion set a standard of excellence that makes it an invaluable tool for those who wish to investigate the Welsh tradition from source texts. Now Gantz has added Early Irish Myths and Sagas to our shelves. This Penguin Classics contains translations of thirteen myths including some of the more common ones such as The Wooing of Étaín and The Boyhood Deeds of Cú Chulaind. I found The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel to be excellent. It contains details never found in mere retellings of the tale and this creates a deeper understanding of the archetypal significance of this myth. The Tale of Macc Da Thó’s Pig is wonderful in Gantz's translation. One could spend many months reading, re-reading and pondering this story. The first section of Early Irish Myths and Sagas includes valuable historical data, a bibliography of ancient texts and translations, a guide to the pronunciation of Irish names and words, and a map of ancient Ireland. This is an excellent book and well worth adding to your library.

Wonderfully random
I liked the way it has things in no particular order like it lists mighty warriors and the main characters are somewhere in the middle. It keeps you awake!

I wish there were more books like this, giving the original text without being too heavy.