This book consists of three tales from the Celtic mythos (oral histories) told for
children, yet enjoyable be all. The first
tale told is the ancient story of Deirdre, the lady of sorrows. On the night she was born, it was foretold that one of the king's loyal retainers would have a daughter whose beauty and voice were beyond compare, yet she would bring great sorrows, especially to the king. Her father and others wanted to kill her, but the king said to spare her and let the sorrow, if any, be his alone. She lived in isolation for years, but finally met and married a beautiful young man, and fled with him and his brothers. The King was furious, and eventually lured them back with lying promises; after several battles the King caught and executed her husband and his brothers. Deirdre died of grief. The King after this came to a very bad end.
The second story is of the
children of Lu. Their stepmother was very jealous of them, and turned them into swans, although they retained their self-knowledge and Celtic speech and had the most beautiful voices imaginable. They lived 300 years on a lake with their people, 300 years on the sea between Ireland and Alba, and 300 years on the western sea. Then they were rescued by a kindly saint. When the king tried to steal them for his wife's pleasure, they turned back into wizened old people and died; their souls flew to heaven, and they were buried in the saint's little church.
The third story is that of Grania and Dermat's love and marriage. She had refused everybody, but said something that made King Finn think she would marry him. She, however, had fallen in love with Dermat, and made him run away with her. Finn pursued them furiously, and tried to kill Dermat. They escaped through many adventures, and eventually Dermat and Finn were reconciled -- sort of. Finn, however, eventually called Dermat out to fight a great boar; when Dermat killed it, but was grievously wounded in the hunt, Finn refused to heal him, and Dermat died. He was taken by his magician foster father to the magician's place where, although he was dead, he could talk a few hours a day, as his family sought vengeance on Finn.