William Carleton

First published in 1834, Tales and Legends of the Irish Peasantry is a series of stories about life in rural Ireland during the early nineteenth century. The assortment of voices found within these pages paint a vivid picture of peasant life, and includes those of William Carleton and Mrs S. C. Hall, writers renowned for their realistic depictions of Irish character, traditions and folklore. Hugely popular in its day, the continuing appeal of this collection lies in the warmth these narratives show for the people, places and scenes they describe, and the unparalleled knowledge they demonstrate of the culture of the time.

Contents: Foreword by Barbara Hayley Auto-biographical Introduction; Ned M'Keown; The Three Tasks; Shane Fadh's Wedding; Larry M'Farland's Wake; The Battle of the Factions; The Station; The Party Fight and Funeral; The Lough Derg Pilgrim; The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh, or The Horse-Stealers; Phil Purcel the Pig-Driver^R