Hard Sense in Soft Words: Sayings from the Great Oral Tradition of Ireland

By George B. Ryan

Book Overview

Before the arrival in Ireland of Christian monks in the fifth century, sagas, poems, and sayings were spread across the countryside by minstrels and storytellers. This is a book of some of the most... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0871319926
• ISBN13: 9780871319920
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: M. Evans and Company
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.9" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Hot Saint Patrick's Day gift

This hardcover is decorated throughout with Celtic designs and script. It would make a great St. Patrick's Day gift. The 228 Irish proverbs are arranged according to what they involve. Proverbs involving horses are collected together, for example, regardless of the advice given. The same goes for marriage, whiskey, hunger and other items. As the author says, Irish proverbs often have a sting in their tails and you can't rely on them to be tame and polite.Each group of proverbs is illustrated by a story, some of which seem more relevant than others. The stories range from Celtic mythology through feudal times through rebellion to the present day. You'll meet a fairy princess, a lovesick wizard, some bad-tempered warriors, a pirate queen, a child ghost, a doomed patriot and a woman attacked by a swan in a public park. Some stories are sad, some are funny. All are entertaining.