Perhaps the best is that edited in four volumes, 3s. 6d. net each, by D. J. O’Donoghue, and published in 1896 by Dent. Its special features are: handsome binding, print, and general get-up; reproduction of original illustrations by Phiz; portraits of Carleton; inclusion of Carleton’s Introduction; biography and critical introduction by Editor. The original edition first appeared in 1830-33. Contents: (1) “Ned M’Keown;” (2) “Three Tasks;” (3) “Shane Fadh’s Wedding;” (4) “Larry M’Farland’s Wake;” (5) “The Station;” (6) “An Essay on Irish Swearing;” (7) “The Battle of the Factions;” (8) “The Midnight Mass;” (9) “The Party Fight and Funeral;” (10) “The Hedge School;” (11) “The Lough Derg Pilgrim;” (12) “The Donagh, or the Horse Stealers;” (13) “Phil Purcel, the Pig Driver;” (14) “The Leanhan Shee;” (15) “The Geography of an Irish Oath;” (16) “The Poor Scholar;” (17) “Wildgoose Lodge;” (18) “Tubber Derg;” (19) “Dennis O’Shaughnessy going to Maynooth;” (20) “Phelim O’Toole’s Courtship;” (21) “Neal Malone.”
This work constitutes the completest and most authentic picture ever given to us of the life of the peasantry in the first quarter of the last century. It is the more interesting in that it depicts an Ireland wholly different from the Ireland of our days, a state of things that has quite passed away. Speaking of the Traits, Mr. D. J. O’Donoghue says that, “taken as a whole, there is nothing in Irish literature within reasonable distance of them for completeness, variety, character-drawing, humour, pathos and dramatic power.” And most Irishmen would be at one with him. About the absolute life-like reality of his peasants there can be no doubt. But reserves must be made as to his fairness and impartiality. To the edition of 1854 he prefixed an introduction, in which he states his intention “to aid in removing many absurd prejudices ... against his countrymen,” and in particular the conception of the “stage Irishman.” He then enters into a vindication and a eulogy of the national character which is fully in accord with national sentiment. But many of the stories were originally written for a violently anti-national and anti-Catholic periodical. Some of the Traits were consequently marred by offensive passages, some of which the author himself afterwards regretted. He frequently betrays the rancour he felt against the religion which he had abandoned. The Catholic clergy in particular he never treated fairly, and in some of the Traits ridicule is showered upon them, e.g., in “The Station.” Yet in others, e.g., “The Poor Scholar,” things Catholic are treated with perfect propriety. In 1845 Thomas Davis wrote for the Nation a very appreciative article on Carleton. The illustrations by Phiz are very clever, but many of them are simply caricatures of the Irish peasantry.
⸺ STORIES FROM CARLETON, with an Introduction by W. B. Yeats. Pp. xvii. + 302. (Walter Scott), 1s. n.d.
Contains: “The Poor Scholar;” “Tubber Derg;” “Wildgoose Lodge;” “Shane Fadh’s Wedding;” “The Hedge School.” Mr. Yeats says of Carleton: “He is the greatest novelist of Ireland, by right of the most Celtic eyes that ever gazed from under the brows of storyteller.”
CARMICHAEL, Alexander.
⸺ DEIRDRE AND THE LAY OF THE CHILDREN OF UISNE. Pp. 146. (Gill, &c.). 1905.
Orally collected in 1867 from the recital of John MacNeill (aged 83), of the Island of Barra. Scotch-Gaelic and English on opposite pages. Differs from the average Irish version in numerous details.
CARROLL, Rev. P. J.
⸺ ROUND ABOUT HOME: Irish Scenes and Memories. Pp. 234. (U.S.A.: Notre Dame, Ind.). $1. 1915.