Between 1878 and 1881, Standish O'Grady published a three-volume
History of Ireland that simultaneously recounted the heroic ancient
past of the Irish people and helped to usher in a new era of cultural
revival and political upheaval. At the heart of this history was the
figure of Cuculain, the great mythic hero who would inspire a generation
of writers and revolutionaries, from W. B. Yeats and Lady Augusta
Gregory to Patrick Pearse. Despite the profound influence O'Grady's
writings had on literary and political culture in Ireland, they are not
as well known as they should be, particularly in view of the
increasingly global interest in Irish culture. This critical edition of
the Cuculain legend offers a concise, abridged version of the central
story in History of Ireland--the rise of the young warrior, his famous
exploits in the Táin Bó Cualinge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), and his
heroic death. Castle and Bixby's edition also includes a scholarly
introduction, biography, timeline, glossary, editorial notes, and
critical essays, demonstrating the significance of O'Grady's writing for
the continued reimagining of Ireland's past, present, and future.
Inviting a new generation of readers to encounter this work, the volume
provides the tools necessary to appreciate both O'Grady's enduring
importance as a writer and Cuculain's continuing resonance as a cultural
icon.
