Wild, formless tales, altogether from the land of dreams, told with the Author’s accustomed magic of word and expression, but to the ordinary reader well-nigh meaningless. In one of these tales some monks solemnly crucify a wandering gleeman because he had dared complain of the filthy food and lodging which they had given him. This tale may fairly be taken as typical of much that is in the book.
⸺ THE CELTIC TWILIGHT. Pp. 235. (A. H. Bullen). 3s. [1893]. New ed., enlarged, 1902. (N.Y.: Macmillan). 1.50.
Disconnected fragments of dim beliefs in a supernatural world of fairies, ghosts, and devils, still surviving among the peasantry. Told in a style often beautiful, but vague and elusive, by a latter-day “pagan,” who would fain share these beliefs himself. The talk of half-crazy peasants, the Author tells us, is set down as he heard it. To the ordinary reader the book cannot but seem full of puerilities. The peasants of whom the Author speaks are chiefly those of North-Eastern Sligo.
⸺ STORIES OF RED HANRAHAN: The Secret Rose: Rosa Alchemica. Pp. 228. (Bullen). 6s. net. 1913.
The first ed., 1897, had the general title The Secret Rose, q.v. In the present volume the revised ed., which appeared in Mr. Yeats’s collected works, 1908, has been followed.
YOUNG, Ella. B. 1867, at Fenagh, Co. Antrim. Is a graduate of the Royal, now the National, University. Is chiefly interested in the old tales of the Irish MS. collections and in folk-lore gathered directly from the people. Has published a volume of poems and many articles and tales in the Manchester Guardian, The Irish Review, Irish Year Book, &c., and in American and New Zealand periodicals. Her writings are full of the influence of the Celtic Revival, in which movement she numbers many friends.
⸺ THE COMING OF LUGH. (Maunsel). 6d. net. 1909.
“A Celtic Wonder-tale Retold” for the young. A dainty little volume in which is prettily told the story of Lugh Lamh Fada’s sojourn in Tir-na-nOg and his return to Erin with the Sword of Light to drive out the Fomorians. The illustrations by Madame Gonne-MacBride are very well done.—(Press Notice).
⸺ CELTIC WONDER TALES. Pp. 202. (Maunsel). 3s. 6d. Illustr. by Maud Gonne. 1910.