Three Wonder Plays

Lady Gregory's Three Wonder Plays weaves Irish folklore, domestic comedy, and social satire into a vivid world where prophecy, appetite, marriage, and magic all collide. In The Dragon, a king returns to a household ruled by a practical, overbearing queen whose concern for health, discipline, and propriety clashes with his love of rich food and his daughter Nuala's fierce independence. When a prophecy warns that Nuala will be devoured by a Green Dragon, the court scrambles to outwit fate by arranging a hasty marriage, only to discover that the princess's calm obedience may hide a deeper resistance—and that she is under an enchantment that turns her into a sea-filly, drawn by the call of the sea. The later plays shift from courtly intrigue to rural enchantment. In Conan, an ambitious young man chases a secret spell and hidden knowledge that he believes could transform the world, while quarrelsome neighbors, a forgetful mother, and even the Sidhe's mocking cats complicate his quest. Across the collection, Lady Gregory blends wit, wonder, and keen observation of human stubbornness, showing how old beliefs and modern schemes alike are tested by desire, freedom, and fate. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.