⸺ CONAN THE WONDER WORKER. Pp. 302. (National Society). 3s. 6d. Four or five illustr. (N.Y.: Whittaker). 1902.
Norway, c. 912-3. Conan is a Christian Scot (i.e., Irishman) who is captured by a Viking, and brought to Norway. In time he converts the Viking and his family. A good story for children and even for grown-ups.
⸺ THE SHEPHERD PRIOR; and other Stories for Sunday Evenings. Pp. 252. (National Society). 2s. 6d. Four illustr. by Violet M. Smith. (N.Y.: Whittaker). 1907.
Written for children in a religious vein, with a moral attached. Only one story deals with Ireland, “The Great Handwriting.” In it the conversion of the King’s daughters by St. Patrick is prettily told. Protestant, but not unsuited to Catholic children.
DEENEY, Daniel.
⸺ PEASANT LORE FROM GAELIC IRELAND. Second edition. Pp. 80. (Nutt). 1s. Stiff wrapper. 1901.
Relates to the Donegal Highlands and Connemara, in the latter of which (at Spiddal, I believe) the writer taught Irish. Consists of illustrations of the peasants’ belief in the preternatural world of spirits and fairies and influences, with examples of common superstitious practices. The writer, if he does not share these beliefs, at least is very far from despising them. “The majority of them [the items included] were related to me in the broken English of a Western peasant”—(Introd.). The book is chiefly interesting to folk-lorists.
The same Author’s Tales and Superstitions of the Connaught Peasants. (Nutt), 1s., 1901, is a collection similar to the preceding.
DENANCE, L. V.