The Kiltartan Poetry Book; prose translations from the Irish   By: Lady Gregory (1852-1932)

In Lady Gregory's remarkable work, The Kiltartan Poetry Book: prose translations from the Irish, readers are transported through time and immersed into the enchanting realm of Irish folklore and poetry. The compilation of stories, mythical tales, and lyrical masterpieces beautifully captures the essence of Celtic culture, offering a rare glimpse into a world rich with tradition and ancient storytelling.

Lady Gregory's painstaking translations bring to life the intricate complexities and lyrical beauty of the Irish language. With her deft touch, she effortlessly navigates the delicate balance between preserving the original texts' authenticity and ensuring their accessibility to a wider audience. Each translated poem carries the weight of history, echoing the sentiments and beliefs of a bygone era while maintaining relevance in today's society.

What sets The Kiltartan Poetry Book apart is the diverse range of voices that Lady Gregory presents. From haunting laments to rousing battle cries, the collection showcases an array of emotions, moods, and themes. The poems explore love, nature, heroism, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Through her translations, Lady Gregory effortlessly transports the reader deep into the heart of Ireland, allowing us to connect with the land's spirit and understand the profound significance of its poetry in shaping its cultural identity.

The book also features prose translations of traditional stories and legends that have been passed down through generations. Lady Gregory's mastery of capturing the oral tradition elevates these narratives, weaving together a complex tapestry that brings ancient heroes, deities, and mythical creatures to life. These tales are not only entertaining but offer valuable insights into the cultural fabric of Ireland, its values, and its people.

Lady Gregory's reverence for the source material shines through in her meticulous attention to detail and her commitment to preserving the essence of each poem. The rhythm, meter, and cadence of the original Irish verse are carefully maintained, ensuring that the lyrical flow remains intact. This dedication to authenticity adds depth and integrity to every translation, inviting readers to experience the melodic beauty of the Irish language in all its glory.

The Kiltartan Poetry Book is an invaluable contribution to the world of Irish literature. Lady Gregory's translations are both an homage to the past and a gift to future generations, allowing the works of long-forgotten poets to once again breathe life. Whether one is a scholar of Irish culture or simply a lover of poetry, this book is an absolute treasure, offering a mesmerizing journey into the heart and soul of a nation through its most revered form of expression.

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If in my childhood I had been asked to give the name of an Irish poem, I should certainly have said "Let Erin remember the days of old," or "Rich and rare were the gems she wore"; for although among the ornamental books that lay on the round drawingroom table, the only one of Moore's was Lalla Rookh , some guest would now and then sing one of his melodies at the piano; and I can remember vexing or trying to vex my governess by triumphant mention of Malachi's collar of gold, she no doubt as well as I believing the "proud invader" it was torn from to have been, like herself, an English one. A little later I came to know other verses, ballads nearer to the tradition of the country than Moore's faint sentiment. For a romantic love of country had awakened in me, perhaps through the wide beauty of my home, from whose hillsides I could see the mountain of Burren and Iar Connacht, and at sunset the silver western sea; or it maybe through the half revealed sympathy of my old nurse for the rebels whose cheering she remembered when the French landed at Killala in '98; or perhaps but through the natural breaking of a younger child of the house from the conservatism of her elders... Continue reading book >>