ISBN: 9781515336969

MR. O'GRADY'S works, like the great cycles of Gaelic literature, may be divided into three parts. This divisio triplex is of unquestionable antiquity. There is a Tripartite Life of St. Pa… More...

MR. O'GRADY'S works, like the great cycles of Gaelic literature, may be divided into three parts. This divisio triplex is of unquestionable antiquity. There is a Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. Omnis Gallia divisa est in partes tres, says Caesar. "Omne trinum perfectum " comes from the schools. And so Mr. O'Grady's works are threefold: historical, historico-romantic, and legendary. Of his historical style and value we formerly gave our views of his "Storm of Ireland," a book MR. O'GRADY'S works, like the great cycles of Gaelic literature, may be divided into three parts. This divisio triplex is of unquestionable antiquity. There is a Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. Omnis Gallia divisa est in partes tres, says Caesar. "Omne trinum perfectum " comes from the schools. And so Mr. O'Grady's works are threefold: historical, historico-romantic, and legendary. Of his historical style and value we formerly gave our views of his "Storm of Ireland," a book against which we warned the young men of Ireland and against which we hesitate not to warn them again. His historico-romantic style-what is commonly known as the historical novel - is seen in "The Captivity of Red Hugh" - a book not quite so indiscreet as the above "story" but indiscreet enough. We can speak more highly of his legendary tales than we can of any other. From which it doth appear that Mr. O'Grady's success as a writer varies in direct ratio to the distance he keeps from all historical matter. The "Coming of Cuculain " is a romance of the heroic age of Ireland, and you have not advanced far before you discover that when Mr. O'Grady finds a heroic topic he wields his pen in heroic style. Battles, encounters, banquets, goblets, spears, Druids, enchantments, forays, shields clanging in battle, and forests and hills trembling at the sight, and all in a wild strain of Ossianic rhetoric, à la McPherson (which really suits the gigantic events of the ancient heroes), are the embellishments of the short tale of the boyhood of Cuculain. The latter was obviously a champion, and some of his fights are entertaining reading; while in Deidrè - ancient Celtic Jephtha - there is a very refined embodiment of a noble idea. Of course we purposely abstain from indicating anything further about Cuculain, as we prefer our readers to encourage Mr. O'Grady to continue his labors in embodying some more of the great heroic legends of Firbolgian and Femorian times, Books, Literary Collections~~General, coming-of-Cuculain~~Standish-OGrady, 999999999, The Coming of Cuculain, Standish O'Grady, 1515336964, CreateSpace Publishing, , , , , CreateSpace Publishing<

2015, ISBN: 1515336964

[EAN: 9781515336969], New book, [PU: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, United States], Language: English. Brand new Book. There are three great cycles of Gaelic literature. The… More...

[EAN: 9781515336969], New book, [PU: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, United States], Language: English. Brand new Book. There are three great cycles of Gaelic literature. The first treats of the gods; the second of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster and their contemporaries; the third is the so-called Ossianic. Of the Ossianic, Finn is the chief character; of the Red Branch cycle, Cuculain, the hero of our tale. Cuculain and his friends are historical characters, seen as it were through mists of love and wonder, whom men could not forget, but for centuries continued to celebrate in countless songs and stories. They were not literary phantoms, but actual existences; imaginary and fictitious characters, mere creatures of idle fancy, do not live and flourish so in the world's memory. And as to the gigantic stature and superhuman prowess and achievements of those antique heroes, it must not be forgotten that all art magnifies, as if in obedience to some strong law; and so, even in our own times, Grattan, where he stands in artistic bronze, is twice as great as the real Grattan thundering in the Senate. I will therefore ask the reader, remembering the large manner of the antique literature from which our tale is drawn, to forget for a while that there is such a thing as scientific history, to give his imagination a holiday, and follow with kindly interest the singular story of the boyhood of Cuculain, "battle-prop of the valour and torch of the chivalry of the Ultonians."<

ISBN: 9781515336969

There are three great cycles of Gaelic literature. The first treats of the gods; the second of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster and their contemporaries; the third is the so-called Ossian… More...

There are three great cycles of Gaelic literature. The first treats of the gods; the second of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster and their contemporaries; the third is the so-called Ossianic. Of the Ossianic, Finn is the chief character; of the Red Branch cycle, Cuculain, the hero of our tale. Cuculain and his friends are historical characters, seen as it were through mists of love and wonder, whom men could not forget, but for centuries continued to celebrate in countless songs and stories. They were not literary phantoms, but actual existences; imaginary and fictitious characters, mere creatures of idle fancy, do not live and flourish so in the world's memory. And as to the gigantic stature and superhuman prowess and achievements of those antique heroes, it must not be forgotten that all art magnifies, as if in obedience to some strong law; and so, even in our own times, Grattan, where he stands in artistic bronze, is twice as great as the real Grattan thundering in the Senate. I will therefore ask the reader, remembering the large manner of the antique literature from which our tale is drawn, to forget for a while that there is such a thing as scientific history, to give his imagination a holiday, and follow with kindly interest the singular story of the boyhood of Cuculain, battle-prop of the valour and torch of the chivalry of the Ultonians. Trade Books>Trade Paperback>Classics>Coll Classics>Coll Classics, CreateSpace Publishing Core >1<

ISBN: 9781515336969

The Coming of Cuculain coming-of-Cuculain~~Standish-OGrady Literature>Literature>Literature Paperback, CreateSpace Publishing

ISBN: 9781515336969

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