⸺ THE BOOK OF GILLY. Pp. 285. (Smith, Elder). Four illustr. by Leslie Brooke. 1906.
Scene: a small island in Kenmare Bay. Gilly is an eight-year-old boy sent to Inishbeg for a few months by his father, Lord Magillicuddy, who is in India. The book makes a marvellous pen-picture of life and scenery in this remote corner of Ireland.
LAWLESS, Emily, and Shan F. BULLOCK.
⸺ THE RACE OF CASTLEBAR. Pp. 364. (Murray). 6s. 1914.
The story of Humbert’s invasion of Ireland in 1798, as seen by the narrator, an Englishman named Bunbury, fresh come to Ireland. B. is represented as an honest, unprejudiced, if somewhat phlegmatic personage. The historic events are presented with great vividness and vigour. The Authors aim at painstaking objectivity. On the one side the sufferings of the Catholics and the harsh treatment of the rebels are painted in strong colours. The portraits both of the rebel leaders and of the Orangemen are far from flattering. The narrative is largely based on that written at the time by Dr. Stock, the excellent Protestant Bishop of Killala. Bunbury is made to spend some weeks at his palace.
LEAHY, A. H. B. in Kerry in 1857. Is a Fellow of Pembroke Coll., Cambridge.
⸺ THE COURTSHIP OF FERB. Square 16mo. Pp. xxix. + 100. (Nutt). 2s. Two illustr. by Caroline Watts. 1902.
Vol. I. of Irish Saga Library. Elegantly produced in every way. An English version of Professor Windisch’s German translation of an old Irish romance from the Book of Leinster (twelfth century). The verse of the original is translated here into English verse, the prose into prose. “In the verse-translations endeavour has been made to add nothing to a literal rendering except scansion and rhyme.”—(Pref.). The tale itself is a kind of preface to the great Tàin. It is not of very striking merit, but is told in simple, dignified language. The translation reads very well. A literal translation of all the poetry is given at the end.
⸺ ANCIENT HEROIC ROMANCES OF IRELAND. Two Vols. Small 4to. Vol. I., pp. xxv. + 197. Vol. II. pp. ix. + 161. (Nutt). 8s. net. 1905.
Contents: Vol. I. “The Courtship of Etain”; “MacDatho’s Boar”; “The Death of the Sons of Usnach” (Leinster Version); “The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn”; “The Combat at the Ford” (Leinster Version). Vol. II. “The Courtship of Fraech”; “The Cattle Spoil of Flidias”; “The Cattle Spoil of Dartaid”; “The Cattle Spoil of Regamon.” The Preface deals with Irish Saga literature in general and in particular with the sagas here translated. Each piece is preceded by a special Introduction dealing with its sources and character. At the end of Vol. I. (pp. 163-197) are copious notes explaining difficulties and giving literal translations. At the end of Vol. II. is a portion of the Text of “The Courtship of Etain,” with interlinear translation. Elsewhere the Text is not inserted. The book is “an attempt to give to English readers some of the oldest romances, in English literary forms, that seem to correspond to the literary forms which were used in Irish to produce the same effect.”—(Pref.). The translation is partly in prose, partly in verse. The former is dignified and fully worthy of the subject, literal and yet in literary English. The verse does not seem to us to reach as high a level. It is very varied as to metre, yet the poetic spirit seems to be wanting.