Rating: 
Summary: A must in the search to understand the early Irish culture.
Review: This book is a necessity because of it's early date. (The original version stemming from c.500 BC) From a part of the world that does not have a great literary tradition, we must take all that we can from what is left. Just a suggestion have a pronuciation guide to the Irish language handy. This is a wonderful epic that rivals the Odessey and The Illiad in my oppinion.
Rating:
Summary: A must in the search to understand the early Irish culture.
Review: This book is a necessity because of it's early date. (The original version stemming from c.500 BC) From a part of the world that does not have a great literary tradition, we must take all that we can from what is left. Just a suggestion have a pronuciation guide to the Irish language handy. This is a wonderful epic that rivals the Odessey and The Illiad in my oppinion.
Rating: 
Summary: An old story translated into Modern English
Review: This book is good if you're interested in old Irish and Celtic mythology. However general audiences will probably be frustrated by dissonant storyline and the confusing lists of names and locations. The story's excitement did not live up to my expectations. It is hard to follow and its hard to make sense of what the characters are doing. It seems more like a story told by a bard to an audience of ancient Irish men and women than a story for modern readers. The translator kept true to the original text, but lost readibility along the way.
Rating:
Summary: Much easier to read than the direct translations
Review: This is a great story.
Rating:
Summary: Lock up your cattle, the Ulstermen are here.
Review: This is a literary masterpiece to match the 5th(?) century manuscript: action, adventure, deceit, love, death, life, marriage, and hurling! What more could I ask for? Kinsella manages to pull you into the past of Ireland without loosing the flavor and excitement of the original epic. No pansy 19th century Victorian mush here, Mrs. Brown. This is the raw thing, the Irish story of how a hero was created.
I grew tired of reading German translations of Old Irish stories, for lack of anything worthwhile in English. Too frequently, translators spend their time getting the exact meaning of each word, only to loose the beauty and flavor of the original melange.
Kinsella comes through like a mighty warrior of the Uliad out of the distant past. Slainte!
Rating:
Summary: Best of Ancient Mythology
Review: This is one of the greatest mythological tales recorded. Unlike what the summary says, it is not the 'closest thing Ireland has to a national epic'. The Irish national epic would be the Leabhar Gabhala, the Book of Invasions, or possible the Fenian Cycle. It is the certainly the great epic of Ulster, however, and I don't mean to reduce it at all.
The literary wealth, the humor, violent single combat, and glimpse into Gaelic culture makes this a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the ancient (and modern) Irish.
Beir bua!
Rating:
Summary: Best of Ancient Mythology
Review: This is one of the greatest mythological tales recorded. Unlike what the summary says, it is not the 'closest thing Ireland has to a national epic'. The Irish national epic would be the Leabhar Gabhala, the Book of Invasions, or possible the Fenian Cycle. It is the certainly the great epic of Ulster, however, and I don't mean to reduce it at all.
The literary wealth, the humor, violent single combat, and glimpse into Gaelic culture makes this a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the ancient (and modern) Irish.
Beir bua!
Rating:
Summary: The men of Ulster are risen from their pangs.
Review: This is the story of a 'tain' or cattle raid perpetrated on Ulster by Ailill and Medb, king and queen of Connacht, along with their allies from all parts of Ireland. It is arguably the earliest surviving epic of Ireland's pre-Christian heritage. The centerpiece of the story is the great feat of 17 year old Cuchulain, who single handedly halts the massed armies intent on seizing the brown bull of Cuailnge (and a tidy portion of the wealth of Ulster as well.Due to a curse, the men of Ulster are doomed to suffer severe bouts of pain whenever they are faced with great difficulties. So, as Ailill and Medb approach Ulster, only Cuchulain can stand and fight. The 'Tain' and its peripheral tales are the story of Ulster's defense, first by Cuchulain, and finally by the massed men of Ulster, risen from their pangs. Poet Thomas Kinsella's telling of this story starts with the early history of Ulster and then introduces Cuchulain, who will be the hero of many of Ulster's legends. This is a remarkable effort from a literary standpoint. Whether by Kinsella's art or the nature of the original language of the text, the "Tain bo Cuailnge" is one of the most accessible of the old epics. The language lacks the overblown pretensions of many translations, remaining clear and understandable whether it is prose or verse. Kinsella himself states that this is a translation, not a retelling, but the introduction leaves some doubt about the precise meaning of 'translation.' In any case, Kinsella's efforts have made the story come to life, bringing home beautifully both the glory and tragedy of a conflict that must have decimated the fighting men of an entire country. The Irish of the "Tain's" writing loved making lists. Lists of heroes, lists of weapons, and lists of places abound. Indeed, every time Cuchulain lists a weapon or moves about, a place in Ulster receives its name. It is as if one of the purposes of this epic is to turn landscape into living literature. Another purpose, more subtle and controversial is the defining or redefining of the place of women in Irish society. Coming into the "Tain" the key female roles - Medb and Morrigan are not queens or goddesses, but ruler's in their own right. But the blame for the defeat of the Connacht armies is laid clearly in Medb's head. At the end Fergus, an exile form Ulster remarks "It is the usual thing for a herd let by a mare to be strayed and destroyed." This is a conflict that will play out repeatedly in Irish history. One of the more delightful features of this edition is the brush drawings provided by Louis le Brocquy. Brocquy's style recalls both cave paintings and Greek ceramic decoration. Gradually, it wins the reader over. His rendition of the final massing of the armies is simply stunning. Significant credit must go to Kinsella himself, who has found a way to make ancient prosody appeal to modern ears.
Rating:
Summary: The men of Ulster are risen from their pangs.
Review: This is the story of a 'tain' or cattle raid perpetrated on Ulster by Ailill and Medb, king and queen of Connacht, along with their allies from all parts of Ireland. It is arguably the earliest surviving epic of Ireland's pre-Christian heritage. The centerpiece of the story is the great feat of 17 year old Cuchulain, who single handedly halts the massed armies intent on seizing the brown bull of Cuailnge (and a tidy portion of the wealth of Ulster as well. Due to a curse, the men of Ulster are doomed to suffer severe bouts of pain whenever they are faced with great difficulties. So, as Ailill and Medb approach Ulster, only Cuchulain can stand and fight. The 'Tain' and its peripheral tales are the story of Ulster's defense, first by Cuchulain, and finally by the massed men of Ulster, risen from their pangs. Poet Thomas Kinsella's telling of this story starts with the early history of Ulster and then introduces Cuchulain, who will be the hero of many of Ulster's legends. This is a remarkable effort from a literary standpoint. Whether by Kinsella's art or the nature of the original language of the text, the "Tain bo Cuailnge" is one of the most accessible of the old epics. The language lacks the overblown pretensions of many translations, remaining clear and understandable whether it is prose or verse. Kinsella himself states that this is a translation, not a retelling, but the introduction leaves some doubt about the precise meaning of 'translation.' In any case, Kinsella's efforts have made the story come to life, bringing home beautifully both the glory and tragedy of a conflict that must have decimated the fighting men of an entire country. The Irish of the "Tain's" writing loved making lists. Lists of heroes, lists of weapons, and lists of places abound. Indeed, every time Cuchulain lists a weapon or moves about, a place in Ulster receives its name. It is as if one of the purposes of this epic is to turn landscape into living literature. Another purpose, more subtle and controversial is the defining or redefining of the place of women in Irish society. Coming into the "Tain" the key female roles - Medb and Morrigan are not queens or goddesses, but ruler's in their own right. But the blame for the defeat of the Connacht armies is laid clearly in Medb's head. At the end Fergus, an exile form Ulster remarks "It is the usual thing for a herd let by a mare to be strayed and destroyed." This is a conflict that will play out repeatedly in Irish history. One of the more delightful features of this edition is the brush drawings provided by Louis le Brocquy. Brocquy's style recalls both cave paintings and Greek ceramic decoration. Gradually, it wins the reader over. His rendition of the final massing of the armies is simply stunning. Significant credit must go to Kinsella himself, who has found a way to make ancient prosody appeal to modern ears.
|
