Chapter XI: Book I: has its scene on Innishrath, an island in Lough Erne (7)

Vol. I. of Irish Saga Library. Elegantly produced in every way.
An English version of Professor Windisch’s German translation
of an old Irish romance from the _Book of Leinster_ (twelfth
century). The verse of the original is translated here into
English verse, the prose into prose. “In the verse-translations
endeavour has been made to add nothing to a literal rendering
except scansion and rhyme.”—(Pref.). The tale itself is a kind
of preface to the great Tàin. It is not of very striking merit,
but is told in simple, dignified language. The translation
reads very well. A literal translation of all the poetry is
given at the end.

⸺ ANCIENT HEROIC ROMANCES OF IRELAND. Two Vols. Small 4to. Vol. I., pp. xxv. + 197. Vol. II. pp. ix. + 161. (_Nutt_). 8_s._ net. 1905.

Contents: Vol. I. “The Courtship of Etain”; “MacDatho’s Boar”;
“The Death of the Sons of Usnach” (Leinster Version); “The
Sick Bed of Cuchulainn”; “The Combat at the Ford” (Leinster
Version). Vol. II. “The Courtship of Fraech”; “The Cattle Spoil
of Flidias”; “The Cattle Spoil of Dartaid”; “The Cattle Spoil
of Regamon.” The Preface deals with Irish Saga literature in
general and in particular with the sagas here translated. Each
piece is preceded by a special Introduction dealing with its
sources and character. At the end of Vol. I. (pp. 163-197)
are copious notes explaining difficulties and giving literal
translations. At the end of Vol. II. is a portion of the Text
of “The Courtship of Etain,” with interlinear translation.
Elsewhere the Text is not inserted. The book is “an attempt to
give to English readers some of the oldest romances, in English
literary forms, that seem to correspond to the literary forms
which were used in Irish to produce the same effect.”—(Pref.).
The translation is partly in prose, partly in verse. The former
is dignified and fully worthy of the subject, literal and yet
in literary English. The verse does not seem to us to reach as
high a level. It is very varied as to metre, yet the poetic
spirit seems to be wanting.

N.B.—The theme of “The Courtship of Etain,” though not coarse
or prurient, is such as to render it unfit for the young.

=LEAHY, Walter T.=

⸺ COLUMBANUS THE CELT. Pp. 455. (PHILADELPHIA: _Kilner_). $1.50. 1913.

The eventful career of the great St. Columbanus (d. 615) in
the form of fiction. Father Leahy bases his story on the
narrative of Jonas, a monk of Bobbio, who wrote the founder’s
life about the middle of the seventh century. But some of the
incidents (notably the incipient love story) are unhistorical.
The Author does little to reproduce the colour and “atmosphere”
of these distant times. He even falls into somewhat glaring
anachronisms. Yet much is done to make the story interesting.

=LEAMY, Edmund.= B. Waterford, 1848, and educated there. Was for many years in Parliament as M.P. for Waterford and afterwards for Kildare. Was a kindly man and a delightful story-teller, beloved of children. He died in 1904.

⸺ IRISH FAIRY TALES. Pp. xix. + 155. [1889]. New ed. (_Gill_). 2_s._ 6_d._ With Introd. by Mr. John E. Redmond, M.P., and Note by T. P. G. Delightful Illustr. by George Fagan. Cr. 8vo. Handsome art linen binding. 1906. (N.Y.: _Benziger_). 0.90.

Sources of inspiration: O’Curry and Joyce. Child audience aimed
at throughout. Hence naïveté in style. At times there is a
simple, sweet beauty of language, and some passages, especially
in the last tale, of true prose poetry. Some useful notes at
end.

⸺ THE FAIRY MINSTREL OF GLENMALURE. Pp. 48. 4to. (_Duffy_). 1_s._ Cover design and many very pretty illustrations by C. A. Mills.

Adventures of Irish children in an Irish fairyland of giants
and little old men and little old women. Told in refined
and graceful style, quite free from brogue, for very little
children, with here and there an unobtrusive moral.

⸺ BY THE BARROW RIVER, and Other Stories. Pp. 281. (_Sealy, Bryers_). 3_s._ 6_d._ Portrait. 1907.

Twenty dramatic, exciting stories, including several good ghost
stories, tales of the exploits of the Irish Brigade, of early
Ireland, of tragedy, and of comedy. By a capital story-teller.
The book would make an excellent present or prize.

⸺ GOLDEN SPEARS, and other Fairy Tales. (N.Y.: _Fitzgerald_). Cover design in colours by Corinne Turner. 1911.

This is simply a new American ed. of _Irish Fairy Tales_.

=LEE, Aubrey.=

⸺ A GENTLEMAN’S WIFE. Pp. 328. (EDINBURGH: _Morton_). 6_s._ 1904.