Crock of Gold (Celtic, Irish) - Softcover

When a crock of gold belonging to the leprechauns of Gort na Cloca disappears, strange things begin to happen. Brigid and Seumas, the children of Philosopher and the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath are kidnapped; and even more unusual, the ancient god Pam is seen playing in the fields!
Attempting to find his children, the Philosopher undertakes a journey to seek the help of the mighty and mysterious god Angus Og. The journey abounds in fantastic adventures and weird sights, culminating in a great gathering of the clans and fairy creatures. There, Angus and a merry multitude of gods bring happiness once again to the folk of the enchanted countryside.
This delightful and unique fantasy established the reputation of the noted Irish poet and novelist James Stephens. Brimming with good humor, whimsy, and charm — along with a few serious observations that in no way detract from the story's magical qualities — The Crock of Gold is a wise and beautiful fairy tale for grown-ups. "Full of sympathy and tenderness and sly satire, of merriment and of poetry." — The New York Times. It is a classic of modern fiction that will enchant devotees of Celtic lore and fable lovers of all ages.

James Stephens (1882–1950) was an Irish novelist and poet. James Stephens wrote many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humor and lyricism (Deirdre, and Irish Fairy Tales are often singled out for praise). He also wrote several books (Crock of Gold, Etched in Moonlight, Demi-Gods) which are fiction, but loosely based on Irish fairy tales. "Crock of Gold," in particular, achieved enduring popularity, and was frequently reprinted throughout the author's lifetime. Stephens began his career as a poet under the tutelage of "Æ" (George William Russell); his first book of poems, "Insurrections," was published in 1909. His last book, "Kings and the Moon" (1938), was also a volume of verse. In the 1930's Stephens had some acquaintance with James Joyce, who found that they shared a birth year (and, Joyce mistakenly believed, a birthday). Joyce, who was concerned with his ability to finish what would later become Finnegans Wake, proposed at one point that Stephens assist him, with the authorship credited to JJ & S (James Joyce & Stephens, also a pun for the popular Irish whiskey made by John Jameson & Sons). The plan, however, never came to fruition, as Joyce was able to complete the work on his own. In the last decade of his life, Stephens found a new audience through a series of broadcasts on the BBC.