The Irish Fairy Book

This astounding collection of Irish folk stories and poetry offers readers a profound and thorough introduction to the nation's lively and evocative legends and folklore.


A superb selection by Alfred Perceval Graves, who was one of Ireland's most renowned poets of the early 20th century, this book is certain to entertain and educate those with an interest in Irish mythology. We are shown the meat of each story in a series of synopses, which effectively summarize the greatest escapades ever told in Irish folk literature. Famous characters such as Finn and Cuchulain are accompanied by tales more obscure in origin, with creatures such as faeries making appearances.


The stories are usually told with a swift and lively form of narration, introducing us to the principle characters and the events which led to their place in Irish folklore. Encounters with mythical and supernatural beasts, meetings with enigmatic monarchs, winning the hand of a romantic interest, or justly ruling upon a part of Ireland in distant antiquity are typical themes of the mythical stories.


In addition to prose narratives, this book includes several legendary narratives in the form of poems. These serve to pepper the book with more variety; these verses are imbued by the culture of old Ireland, with many using turns of phrase and slang unique to the national heritage. As with several of the stories, the poems are rich in allusion to the verdant countryside and traditions of yore.