Traditional Irish Fairy Tales

by James Stephens

Book Overview

This collection of ten time-honored tales brims with enchantment, whimsy, and sly humor. Assembled by a renowned poet and student of Gaelic language and culture, this illustrated edition includes "The Birth of Bran," "The Little Brawl at Allen," "The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran," "Becuma of the White Skin," "Mongan's Frenzy," and other stories.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486291669
• ISBN13: 9780486291666
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Solid Find

These stories are calmly told, and universal. Very beautifully written, and the illustrations are very charming. It's a good price too. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in folklore in general. Easy to read print and layout, and wonderful stories!

This is the BEST!

This is a wonderful book of fairy tales! I have read my earlier copy over so many times that it is falling apart. I sent these out for Christmas presents last year.

Wonderful and Enteraining!

This is my favorite collection of Irish Fairy Tales and a wonderful introduction to the the genre for people unfamiliar with it. I frequently give this book as a gift to children who also enjoy Harry Potter books but like the reviewer above it's a wonderful read for all ages. James Stephen's collection is special because every tale contained in it is a gem and the language, while modern, retains the wit and spirit of these oral tales.

Stephens as a poetic voice of ireland

to limit, as you do, your review of Stephens irish fairy Tales to adolescent readers is a disservice to the book. While it is eminently readable, it does far more than many fairy tale compilations. Stephens presents a voice, a carefully chosen, well modulated voice, to present the web of tales which comprise the Irish tradition. As in Crock of Gold, he does this with beautiful natural imagery, and references to the bays and rivers and isles of Ireland. Moreover, unlike much of literature considered adolescent fare,he encompasses adult virtues and vices including lust, envy and pride. This book is written with a compelling sense of humor, aimed not at the cute, but at the failings which each of us possess. it is a book worthy of reading by a person of any age.