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Tain

by Thomas Kinsella

ISBN13: 9780192810908
ISBN10: 0192810901
Condition: Standard
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The Tain Bo Cuailnge, centre-piece of the eighth-century Ulster cycle of heroic tales, is Ireland's nearest approach to a great epic. It tells the story of a giant cattle-raid, the invasion of Ulster by the armies of Medb and Ailill, queen and king of Connacht, and their allies, seeking to carry off the great Brown Bull of Cuailnge. The hero of the tale is Cuchulainn, the Hound of Ulster, who single-handedly resists the invasion, whils Ulster's warriors lie sick.

Thomas Kinsella's translation is the first attempt to present a `living version' of the story, complete and unbowdlerized. It is based on the partial texts in two medieval manuscripts, and includes a group of related stories which prepare for the action of the Tain. Illustrated with 31 brush drawings by Louis le Brocquy and three maps, this edition combines medieval epic with modern art.

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: Lanea, June 12, 2008 (view all comments by Lanea)
This is an astoundingly beautiful, thrilling translation of one of the most important works of mythology Europe has produced. The story follows a cattle raid waged against Ulster by the tribes of Ireland, and one demi-god's war against the invaders. It's full of passion, violence, intrigue, loyalty, bravery, sex, magic, victory, loss--the stuff of myth the world over.

Kinsella is a poet's poet, and a very talented translator. He gets right to the heart of the original Old Irish--a language few of us study--and captures its energy and precision and lyricism. Louis le Brocquy's illustrations are evocative and passionate and burned forever onto my mind's eye. I've read it over and over again, and I'm sure I will never find its like.
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Product Details

ISBN:: 9780192810908
Translator:: Kinsella, Thomas.
Author:: Le Brocquy, Louis
Publisher:: Oxford University Press, USA
Location:: London ;
Subject:: Literature/English | British Literature | 18th C
Copyright:: c196
Edition Number:: 2
Edition Description:: Bibliography: p. xxiv
Publication Date:: 19701115
Binding:: Paperback
Grade Level:: College/higher education:
Language:: English.
Illustrations:: 73 illus.
Pages:: 320
Dimensions:: 7.80x5.29x.72 in. .68 lbs.

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