Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A lyrical anthology collecting haunting Irish legends, from banshees and pookas to changelings and witches. Yeats captures the rural peasantry's deep connection to magic, ghosts, and ancient beliefs, offering a window into a world where the supernatural is woven into daily life.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry*, William Butler Yeats presents a rich tapestry of supernatural beliefs that bridge the mundane and the mystical worlds of 19th-century Ireland. The collection is framed by Yeats's reflections on the decline of fairy belief in England versus its persistence in Ireland, where fairies still actively intervene in human lives, offering gifts to the kind or causing trouble to the surly. Yeats details a diverse array of entities, including the 'Trooping Fairies' who visit during harvest, 'Changelings' swapped for human infants, and the 'Merrow,' sea-nymphs associated with storms. He describes the 'Pooka,' a mischievous horse-like spirit, and the 'Banshee,' a female spirit whose wailing predicts death. The anthology also explores ubiquitous 'Ghosts,' 'Witches' who travel to England, and 'Demon Cats' banished by priests. Specific narratives illustrate the perilous nature of these encounters. In the tragic tale of Rachel Higgins, an old woman is killed while in the form of a hare after helping men catch it, only to be found dying in her human form amidst a pool of blood. Another story features the 'Horned Women,' a group of witches who invade a home to spin wool until they are repelled by protective rituals involving feet-water and blood-cakes. Other entries cover the 'Ganconer,' a fairy of love and idleness, and the 'T'yeer-na-n-Oge,' the Land of Youth where happiness is cheap. Yeats emphasizes the simplicity and musical quality of these tales, noting they are the literature of a class for whom every incident has remained unchanged for centuries. He contrasts the 'Celt,' a natural visionary, with the modern city dweller. The book serves as both a preservation of oral tradition and a literary work, capturing the 'pulse of life' of the Irish peasantry before the pressures of modernity and religious suppression eroded these ancient beliefs. Through anecdotes of storytellers like Paddy Flynn and skepticism from travelers, Yeats illustrates the fading world of the 'old profession' of fairies, leaving a legacy of wonder and melancholy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/william-butler-yeats_fairy-and-folk-tales-of-the-irish-peasantry.epub

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Categories

• Classics
• Folklore