Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland - Softcover

This is a collection of tales collected from peasants and storytellers. The wit of peasants, energies of nature, poverty, are all evident.

This book is generally regarded to be the first significant collection of Irish folk narrative ot be publish. Croker's book was anonymously published in 1825 and it was praised by Sir Walter Scott and was translated into German by the Brothers Grimm. The book is being reprinted again in a facsimilated of its original first the edition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Crofton Croker (1798-1854). Croker, the son of a British soldier, roamed the contryside, especially in the Muster area, collecting tales and lore from peasants and storytellers. The lively wit of the peasants, the wild energies of nature, the poverty, the struggle to make ends meet, all can be detected under the surface of Choker's text. He collected and impressive amount of material, much of which was used in this collection but also in later collections. His interests were eclectic, including art and music. His collection, Popular Songs of Ireland (1839), was another significant work contributing to saving and popularizing early Irish folklore. In 1813 he helped found the Cork Scientific Society