Traditional Irish Fairy Tales

Product Description "Traditional Irish Fairy Tales" by James Stephens features ten time-honored classics which are notable retellings of traditional favorites. Brimming with enchantment, whimsy and sly humor, Stephen's work does far more than many fairy tale compilations. In "Traditional Irish Fairy Tales" 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. "Traditional Irish Fairy Tales" is written with a compelling sense of humor, aimed not at the cute, but at the failings which each of us possess. For many, it ranks as a favorite book if Irish fairy tales and a book worthy of reading by a person of any age. A great read for anyone interested in Irish folklore, or a set of beautifully written, wonderful stories. About the Author James Stephens (1882-1950) was an Irish novelist and poet. James Stephens wrote many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humor and lyricism (Deirdre, and Irish Fairy Tales are often singled out for praise). He also wrote several books (Crock of Gold, Etched in Moonlight, Demi-Gods) which are fiction, but loosely based on Irish fairy tales. "Crock of Gold," in particular, achieved enduring popularity, and was frequently reprinted throughout the author's lifetime. Stephens began his career as a poet under the tutelage of "Æ" (George William Russell); his first book of poems, "Insurrections," was published in 1909. His last book, "Kings and the Moon" (1938), was also a volume of verse. In the 1930's Stephens had some acquaintance with James Joyce, who found that they shared a birth year (and, Joyce mistakenly believed, a birthday). Joyce, who was concerned with his ability to finish what would later become Finnegans Wake, proposed at one point that Stephens assist him, with the authorship credited to JJ & S (James Joyce & Stephens, also a pun for the popular Irish whiskey made by John Jameson & Sons). The plan, however, never came to fruition, as Joyce was able to complete the work on his own. In the last decade of his life, Stephens found a new audience through a series of broadcasts on the BBC.