The Laughter Of Peterkin: Restored Classics to Go Edition

· Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
228
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

The Laughter of Peterkin gathers ancient Celtic legend into prose of haunting lyricism, where kings, swans, ravens, and doomed heroes move through a world ruled by beauty, fate, sacrifice, and supernatural power. Fiona Macleod's telling gives old Gaelic stories a dreamlike freshness, opening with the sorrowful, enduring legend of the Four White Swans, or the Fate of the Children of Lir, and its unforgettable image of Fionula transformed into a snow-white swan. From the magical world of the Tuatha-De-Danann and the tragic rise and fall of Lir's household, the tales unfold into deeper grief: betrayal, exile, and the loss of innocent happiness. Another great cycle follows the destruction of the Red Branch and the death of the sons of Usna, as jealousy, madness, and war bring noble warriors to a heartbreaking end. Yet the book is more than narrative alone. Its notes and commentary illuminate the translator's sources, the many variants of these legends, and the larger mythic tradition behind the "Three Sorrows" of Gaelic lore. A glossary of names and terms further opens this mystical wonderworld to readers, making the legends vivid, accessible, and enduring. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
The Laughter of Peterkin gathers ancient Celtic legend into prose of haunting lyricism, where kings, swans, ravens, and doomed heroes move through a world ruled by beauty, fate, sacrifice, and supernatural power. Fiona Macleod's telling gives old Gaelic stories a dreamlike freshness, opening with...

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About the author

William Sharp was a Scottish writer, poet, editor, and critic whose career moved fluidly between the literary circles of London and the rich imaginative landscapes of his native Highlands. Born in 1855 and educated in Glasgow, he came of age during a period when interest in folklore, nationalism, and the revival of Celtic culture was reshaping British letters. Sharp wrote across genres and often explored the borderlands between myth and modern life, helping to bring Celtic subjects, symbolism, and spiritual mystery into wider literary conversation. He was also closely associated with the literary and artistic movements of the late nineteenth century, and his work reflects both the elegance of that era and its fascination with hidden identities, memory, and the power of ancient stories. His most enduring achievement lies in the way he rendered old legends vivid for new audiences, not merely preserving tradition but reimagining it with lyric grace and emotional depth. Across his writing, recurring themes of place, ancestral inheritance, beauty, exile, and the unseen world give his work a haunting resonance that still feels contemporary, especially for readers interested in cultural identity and the enduring life of folklore. Sharp's legacy rests in his role as a bridge between oral tradition and modern literary art, and his influence can still be felt in later fantasy, mythic retellings, and Celtic revival writing. Readers who love atmospheric prose, folklore, and stories shaped by enchantment and memory will find him especially rewarding.

William Sharp was a Scottish writer, poet, editor, and critic whose career moved fluidly between the literary circles of London and the rich imaginative landscapes of his native Highlands. Born in 1855 and educated in Glasgow, he came of age during a period when interest in folklore, nationalism,...

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