Early Irish Myths and Sagas

First written down in the eighth century AD, these early Irish stories depict a far older world - part myth, part legend and part history. Rich with magic and achingly beautiful, they speak of a land of heroic battles, intense love and warrior ideals, in which the other-world is explored and men mingle freely with gods. From the vivid adventures of the great Celtic hero Cú Chulaind, to the stunning 'Exile of the Sons of Uisliu' - a tale of treachery, honour and romance - these are masterpieces of passion and vitality, and form the foundation for the Irish literary tradition: a mythic legacy that was a powerful influence on the work of Yeats, Synge and Joyce.

This translation, by Jeffrey Gantz, fully captures the poetic and elusive language of the original. His introduction considers the history of the myths, and describes with lucidity the Celtic culture that inspired their creation.