+ Springf’d Republican p8 O 19 ’20 330w
“What real Irish fun there is in it, reminding one a bit of James Stephens’s ‘Pot of gold,’ with a good deal of human character for all that; why it might ‘act’ well if well acted—all this you can best find out for yourself by just reading this bit of excellent fooling. it opens a pleasant escape into the realm of fantasy in these super-serious times.”
+ Theatre Arts Magazine 5:84 Ja ’21 270w
GREGORY, ISABELLA AUGUSTA (PERSSE) lady, comp. and ed. Visions and beliefs in the west of Ireland. 1st and 2d ser. 2v il *$4.50 Putnam 398.2
20–26541
These various superstitions, beliefs, fancies and fairy lore of the Irish peasants are given in the versions of the people, as they told them to Lady Gregory. She has classified them into groups under appropriate titles, introducing each group with an explanatory note or quotation. In the preface of volume 1 she tells about the “Sidhe,” the invisible host, some sort of fallen angels, who still swarm about the country side, in turn helping, teasing and interfering with the country folk. The contents of volume 1 are: Sea-stories; Seers and healers; The evil eye—the touch—the penalty; Away; and an essay and notes by W. B. Yeats. The essay is: Witches and wizards and Irish folklore. Volume 2 contains: Herbs, charms, and wise women; Astray, and treasure; Banshees and warnings; In the way; The fighting of the friends; The unquiet dead; Appearances; Butter; The fool of the forth; Forths and sheoguey places; Blacksmiths; Monsters and sheoguey beasts; Friars and priest cures; Essay on Swedenborg, mediums, and the desolate places, and notes by W. B. Yeats.
“Almost every kind of reader will find these volumes deeply interesting. Taken down with patience and extraordinary skill from the lips of living men and women, they make audible the very voice of the Irish people. They form a valuable contribution to the literature of folk-lore, while Mr Yeats’ highly characteristic essays and notes add greatly to their curious charm.” F. R.
+ Ath p550 O 22 ’20 1250w Booklist 16:299 Je ’20
“Bacon said that some books are to be tasted, others to be chewed and digested: Visions and beliefs’ belongs to the former class; folk-lorists will use it as a work of reference (although scholars would find it more valuable were it supplied with a good index), while those seeking only entertainment will enjoy chiefly Lady Gregory’s interpretative passages.” N. J. O’C.