The Names upon the Harp: Irish Myth and Legend

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Summary: "You and I Leave Names Upon the Harp..."
Review: "The Names Upon the Harp" is a collection of Irish legends from the three main cycles set down by scholars to classify the ancient manuscripts that record the tales: the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle and the Fenian Cycle. As retold by Marie Heaney, she begins each part with an introduction to that particular cycle and then launches into her favourite stories from that area.

The Mythological Cycle concerns the Tuatha Da Danaan, who were some of the early occupants of Ireland who defeated the Fomorians and were later in turn defeated by the Milesians who drove them underground. Heaney thus includes the stories that best describe these two events: "Moytura" that recounts how the Fomorian Balor of the Evil Eye was killed by his grandson Lugh, and "The Children of Lir", who were changed into swans by their stepmother and forced to live on until the peal of a bell rang in the new faith.

The Ulster Cycle concerns the doings of King Conor Mac Nessa and his court at their home of Emain Macha, including "The Birth of Cuchulainn", the strongest warrior of all, "Bricriu's Feast", who attempted to cause competition and strife between the warriors, and "Deirdre of the Sorrows" who was the Irish version of Blodewynn, Gwynevere and Helen: a beautiful woman caught between the love of two men who eventually causes their downfall.

Lastly, the Finn Cycle is of the Fianna Warriors and the bloodline of their leader Finn Mac Cumhaill: "Finn and the Salmon of Knowledge" tells of his upbringing and the gaining of his wisdom, "The Enchanted Deer" tells of his love affair with Sadb, a beautiful woman cursed in the form of a deer, and "Oisin in the Land of Youth", the story of Finn's son who travels to Ti Na N-Og with his beloved, only to return back to Ireland to find many thousands of years have past. The Finn Cycle also includes a poem "Summer", translated from the Irish by Seamus Heaney.

Therefore, the book covers a wide range of the mythology canon of Ireland, but one wishes that there had been more to fill in the blanks between each myth - often fascinating characters and plot points are introduced only to fall by the wayside, and often drastically important stories are left out entirely: Cuchulainn's death for example. Likewise, although Heaney tells the stories adequately, there is no sense of age or importance in her narrative. The people and events are told straightforwardly, but there is no mystery, no poetry, no sense of the *timelessness* of these great stories. One senses that she wrote for the benefit of introducing children to the myths, but it becomes clear early on that these stories are definitely *not* suitable for young children.

P. J. Lynch uses watercolours to capture the images of the stories, and here is where the true strength of the book lies. I have always been a huge fan of this artist, and "The Names Upon the Harp" might just be his best work. The landscapes of Ireland are just what they should be: mysterious and dark, cold and misty, rock-strewn and lake-covered. But the people: Lynch manages to catch all of them - whether strong or weak, cunning or tragic, warriors or poets, each one is realised fully. A few crowning achievements are the bitter sadness of Deirdre as she looks out upon the snow, and the pain on Oisin's face as he embraces his father farewell. As seen in other books, Lynch also enjoys creating giants: here the headless Cu Roi and the monstrous Balor are so vivid that it might be a good idea to censor this book from the little ones. This seems like a good place to say that he isn't stingy about the use of blood and violence either.

All in all, this is a rewarding book that for good measure includes a pronunciation guide and a list of sources. If you like Irish myth, then there are no real complaints here, and if you are a fan of P. J. Lynch, or want to see some of his best work (if you like Alan Lee or John Howe, you'll definitely like P. J.) then look no further. "The Names Upon the Harp" is well worth the search, and definitely worth owning.

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Summary: Great Book for Mythology Lovers
Review: This book is filled with amazingly beautiful illustrations and well written stories about some of Ireland's most famous heros and heroines. It is divided into three parts highlighting three major sections of Ireland's mythology and each part has a forward giving you some background information about the stories contained in it. One of my favorite parts are the tales about Cuchullainn, the Hound of Ulster. Another great thing about the book is the pronunciation guide at the back to help you pronounce the strange names of Ireland's ancestors. It also includes a list of other books you can find for other stories about Irish Legends. Although parts of the book are somewhat bloody I find them necissary for the history and not at all overdone. This is a well-rounded book: good writing, wonderful presentation, and amazing illustrations. Enjoy!

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Summary: Careful execution, disappointing storytelling
Review: This volume of nine tales has superb design and layout; unfortunately, the content falls a bit flat. Celtic designs decorate the endpapers and the text has an illuminated character at the start of each story, giving an ancient flavor to the book. This design should have been carried over to frame the illustrations. The paintings themselves range from muted to vibrant, and some seem similar to a Magic playing card.
Heaney gives the reader tales from each of the three cycles of early Irish literature. The stories progress very fluidly, in three sets of three, but in spite of their romance and adventure, they come off as one dimensional, perhaps because Heaney lacks a true storyteller's voice, and her words fail to engage the reader. Names are difficult, and all pronunciations are at the end of the text. Sources are cited, and Heaney's source notes indicate she did her research carefully, but in spite of careful execution, something is disappointingly lacking. The cover may draw readers in, although the title is hard to read, and teachers needing such materials may find the volume useful. Purchase where there is a need, or to beef up your Irish folklore collection.