There’s a new Beowulf-related page, Pre-Christian Epics of Northern Europe on Fiannaidheacht: The Fenian Cycle, which chronologically falls between the Ulster Cycle and the Historical Cycle of Irish Literature. The exploits of Fionn mac CumHaill, sometimes called Finn MacCool, and the Fianna warriors are stories of heroes, chronicling innumerable fierce battles.
While the Cattle Raid of Cooley from the Ulster Cycle is most similar to Beowulf, if you yearn for a little romance and fantasy, with excursions into the realm of Faery, these tales may be to your liking. They also provide an interesting glimpse into the world view of early Medieval folk
The realm of Faery is near the surface in these tales. It’s not just lovely ladies in filmy gowns. It’s a dangerous place where mortals may find themselves in the twinkling of an eye, and Faery dwellers may crossover into the human world to do harm as well as dazzle.
In truth we do not go to Faery, we become Faery, and in the beating of a pulse we may live for a year or a thousand years. But when we return the memory is quickly clouded, and we seem to have a dream or seen a vision, although we have verily been in Faery.
– from the story, Carl of the Drab Coat
Irish Fairy Tales is a collection of ten fantastic tales, some clearly from the Fenian Cycle and the Mongan Cycle, retold by James Stephens and lavishly illustrated by Arthur K. Rackham: The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill, The Boyhood of Fionn, The Birth of Bran, Oisín’s Mother, The Wooing of Becfola, The Little Brawl at Allen, The Carl of the Drab Coat, The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran, Becuma of the White Skin, Mongan’s Frenzy.
There are many editions of Stephens’ book, but this one is a Kindle version with color illustrations from my own copy of the first edition (London, 1920). I scanned and optimized each image for Kindle viewing and they will display in color on Kindle for PC or on Kindle reader apps that display color.
