Traditional Irish Literature and Its Backgrounds: A Brief Introduction. A Revision of "The Shadow of the Three Queens"

Description

This is a completely revised edition of "The Shadow of the Three Queens", an invaluable handbook first published in 1953. Designed for serious students of Irish and Anglo-Irish literature as well as for those more casual readers interested in this romantic subject, it is a unique and essential guide, offering the kind of background needed for full understanding and enjoyment of all that has been written about ancient Eire. American readers have learned to know and love the legends of Ireland, utilized by William Butler Yeats, Lady Gregory, James Stephens, and others. The material these authors drew upon is fully annotated here, with exactness and clarity of organization, along with a rich bibliography of sources for the advanced student. No work of this kind has been previously attempted. Following a discussion on language and a concise outline of pre-Norman Irish history, the reader is offered a detailed story of sociological factors ranging from mythology to matters of everyday living. Then comes a survey of the great literature of Ireland, which takes in the subject of manuscripts, classifications of the poets and musicians, story lists, visions, voyages, lyric verse, and the major story cycles, with excellent summaries of illustrative tales from each. Originally projecting a very concise aid to elementary students of Irish literature, Dr. Saul has sought to simplify, by a sort of selective codification, the approach to a subject o£ great interest to anyone sensitive to literature and its backgrounds, traditions, and associations. General readers will find the information assembled here of aid in explaining historical and legendary implications present in much late and post-Victorian Anglo-Irish literature. More than 150 notes provide full references to most of the available Anglo-Irish literature drawing on traditional matter. The Index of Names is truly a roster of all the great ones of Irish folklore. Preface 9 I. A Note on Language 13 II. Prefigured in Half-Light: A Short Outline of Pre-Norman Irish History 15 III. Weights and Balances: Sociological Considerations of Particular Interest 27 IV. The Wild Heritage: Literature Proper 45 Index of Names 111