Review (PDF) The Pursuit Of Diarmuid And Grainne / The Exile Of The Sons Of Uisliu
For a thousand years and more audiences have delighted in these Irish tales, wondering at the elopement of the impetuous Grainne with the heroic Diarmuid and heartbroken by the fateful flight of Deirdre. Two strong women take control of their destinies and both pay grievous prices.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Old Baldy Press (November 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0976115743
ISBN-13: 978-0976115748
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.4 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #343,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #251 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British & Irish > Literature #1208 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > European
This is not a simple OCR knock-off of Standish O'Grady's Pursuit of Giarmuid and Grainne. Kinsella has thoroughly modernized the text, updated footnotes, and included lines that O'Grady declined to translate from the Irish. He has also provided a thorough and readable introduction to this old Irish tale. If you want to read a faithful rendition of a hard-to-find Fenian Tale, this is an excellent text. Also included is an updated version of A. H Leay's translation of the Ulster Cycle story of Deirdre. Packaging these related tales together makes good sense. Recommended for anyone interested in reading early Irish literature.
The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne, a popular Irish tale with a thousand year tradition, survives in more than forty manuscript versions. Nearly all follow the same basic storyline: Fionn, Grainne, and Diarmuid are bound unwillingly in a triangle of love and jealousy. Most versions conclude shortly after the fated death of Diarmuid. This particular version, and a minority of others, keeps the story alive for one more plot twist, the return of Grainne to her original betrothed. One recent editor is convinced that this cyclical ending is neither original nor standard. Other scholars describe it as characteristic of early Irish storytelling. Versions without Grainne's final return support romantic and heroic readings: the love between Diarmuid and Grainne is strongly drawn, and the death of Diarmuid, while sorrowful, is untainted. On the other hand, Grainne's final, surprising action in this version provides a disconcerting climax to the tale. The struggle for power, a theme found throughout the tale, is strongly reinforced, as is a pattern of misogyny. And yet this ending also hints at an older, regenerative role played by Grainne. Think of her as an earth goddess: the king may die, but she must endure.
This piece of literature offers deep characters, an interesting plot and feats that will amaze you. This tale gives a portrait of people that are exalted and bound, uplifted and destroyed by their bonds and obligations. The fact that it is so obscure makes it an even better treat.This arrived in great condition in a prompt manner. It was well worth the money.
Fun, easy read.
The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne / The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu Your Kids at Risk: How Teen Sex Threatens Our Sons and Daughters Loser Sons: Politics and Authority Autism Every Day: Over 150 Strategies Lived and Learned by a Professional Autism Consultant with 3 Sons on the Spectrum Du Rose Sons: Love and Intrigue in the Stunning New Zealand Wilderness (The Hana Du Rose Mysteries Book 8) Fathers and Sons (Oxford World's Classics) Fathers and Sons (Modern Library Classics) The Complete Works of D. H. Lawrence (22 Complete Works of D. H. Lawrence Including Women in Love, The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers, Fantasia of the Unconscious, Aaron's Rod, Twilight in Italy, & More) Sons of Mississippi: A Story of Race and Its Legacy Teach Yourself Visually iPod Touch (Teach Yourself VISUALLY (Tech)) by Hart-Davis, Guy published by John Wiley & Sons (2013) Sam Choy & the Makaha Sons' A Hawaiian Luau The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea Without You, There Is No Us: My secret life teaching the sons of North Korea's elite COME YE SONS OF ART SSA V/S All My Sons (Penguin Classics) Miller Plays: All My Sons; Death of a Salesman; The Crucible; A Memory of Two Mondays; A View from the Bridge v.1 (World Classics) (Vol 1) Tradition Book Sons of Ether Revise *OP (Mage) Exalted Scavenger Sons *OP The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual: A Student's Guide to Techniques 9th (ninth) Edition by Zubrick, James W. published by John Wiley & Sons (2013) A Flame Put Out (Sons of Odin Series Book 2)
