Journey through ancient history with new retellings of Irish myths and legends from Gerry SmythHere we visit an island of mortals and immortals, warriors and giants, druids and shapeshifters; of rolling hills echoing with the sound of hunting horns, and dark forests through which mad monarchs roam; of boggy plains where battles are fought, and mystic lakes where swan-children reside. It is across these storied landscapes that the canon of Irish mythology unfurls. Ancient tales – once preserved in memory and passed down through oral tradition, later recorded by scholars and poets – are here retold, accompanied by thoughtful commentaries and enchanting illustrations.Using the four story cycles – the Mythological Cycle, Ulster Cycle, Finn Cycle and the Cycle of the Kings – to structure his narrative, Gerry Smyth brings his experience of growing up in the historical, physical and mythological landscapes of Ireland to give these age-old tales a new life. Smyth animates the places and players of these ancient stories, inviting us to battle alongside the hero Lugh of the Long Hand as he faces Balor and his destructive evil eye; to follow the boy Setanta as he develops into the hero Cuchulain; and to feel the love and tragedy in the star-crossed tale of Deirdre and Naoise. We feel sorrow for the swan children of Lir, awe at the power of Queen Maeve, and horror at the slaying of Mael-Fogarty by his father.From the island’s earliest invaders, the narrative progresses through Irish history – across its various mythological, heroic and historical phases – to the final story of the death of King Brian Boru in 1014. Illustrated from the British Library’s unparalleled collections, Tara of the Kings is a treasure-trove of the myths that shaped Ireland.
