[Gutenberg 63866] • Hero-Tales of Ireland

Once upon a time all of the legends of Fin MacCool, an ancient hero of Gaelic mythology, were written down for posterity. Saint Patrick, however, was obliged to order two-thirds of them destroyed. The tales were so entertaining, said he, that the people of Erin would do nothing but listen to them. Fortunately for us, many Fenian tales survive, as this captivating collection features 24 tales of super-human heroes and their adventures.

Compiled by an ethnographer from the Smithsonian Institution who traveled Ireland in the late nineteenth century in search of these vanishing folk tales, this volume abounds with fantastic accounts of bold warriors who battle dragons and giants, outwit sorcerers, and with the help of loyal comrades, overcome death itself. This delightful collection represents not only a valuable resource for students of anthropology and aficionados of Celtic lore but also hours of enchanting reading for lovers of folk tales.