Legends, Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Dover Celtic and Irish Books) by Jane Francesca Wilde


Legends, Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Dover Celtic and Irish Books)
Title : Legends, Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Dover Celtic and Irish Books)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0486447332
ISBN-10 : 9780486447339
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 368
Publication : First published March 10, 2006

Nowhere in the nineteenth century did interest in folklore and mythology have a more thorough revival than in Ireland. There, in 1887, Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde, Oscar Wilde's mother and a well-known author in her own right, compiled this collection of charming, authentic folk tales. Collected from among the peasantry and retaining their original simplicity, the myths and legends reveal delightfully the Irish people's relationship with a spiritual and invisible world populated by fairies, elves, and evil beings. Included in Lady Wilde's collection, among others, are eerie tales of "The Horned Women," "The Holy Well and the Murderer," and "The Bride's Death-Song," as well as beguiling accounts of superstitions concerning the dead, celebrations and rites, animal legends, and ancient charms.
The first book to link Irish folklore with nationalism, Legends illustrates the mythic underpinnings of the Irish character and signals the country's cultural reemergence. It remains, said the Evening Mail, "an important contribution to the literature of Ireland and the world's stock of folklore."

Legends, Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Dover Celtic and Irish Books) Reviews

  • Tiffany

    Fabulous research book for those interested in fairies. Use this as a reference for creating fairies for my "Legends of the Fey" show for my Renaissance Acting Guild.
    The writing is very victorian, but then, it is over 100 years old. Fabulous collection of legends.

  • October

    Well, what to say about Lady Wilde's collection.

    Personally, I prefer Yeats's own collection for a number of reasons. For one, it's entirely about folklore--this one is not. Lady Wilde likes to dedicate large sections of her book to wild theories about Irish history, some of which is built upon evidence like 'these two words from different languages sound the same--therefore the ancient Irish were Persians!' Another downfalls is that all of the stories are viewed through a thoroughly Christian lens. While it's interesting in its own right, she spends too much time focusing on how faeries are fallen angels, or denouncing old rites as belonging to the Devil.

    Unfortunately, you have to spend most of this book reminding yourself that it was A.) A purposefully nationalist work and B.) Written in the 19th Century. However, some of the history she shares actually is accurate and may be useful. Despite the whole railing against horrible pagan-ness, the folktales are charming and offer an interesting comparison to their pre-Christian counterparts--when one can find them, that is.

    Still, I strongly encourage you toward Yeats's collection, as it's a much easier read and he doesn't get up on a soapbox to rant and rave.

  • Daniela

    За някой, който обича приказките на Андерсен тели легенди и митове, които всъщност представляват древни сказания, няма да му харесат. Поне не и в началото. Човек трябва да прочете една, две, три и да направи пауза от няколко дни дори, за да им позволи да му "проговорят". Определено интереса книга, лейди Уайлд е успяла да запише доста любопитни необработени ирландски предания. Препоръчвам я на всеки, който търси книга-предизвикателство :)

  • CJ - It's only a Paper Moon

    A bit 'outdated' in terms of vernacular and social commentary but still very interesting.

  • Richard

    Lady Wilde was a very silly Victorian, but still well done for recording all of these stories.