The Frenzied Prince Being Heroic Stories of Ancient Ireland Illustrated By Willy Pogany

Washington Square, Philadelphia: David McKay Company, 1943. Stated First Edition at copyright page; Copyright, 1943 by David McKay Company. Large 7 3/4" x 9 1/2" design. Lithographed in the United States of America by William C. D. Glaser, New York. Smooth, coated dk. green cloth boards, stamped cover and spine titles, moderate shelf wear. Coated pages fine; no writing. Beautiful map endpapers by Willy Pogany. Bind fine; hinges intact. Classic pictorial wrapper, moderate edge wear; unclipped 3.50, protected in new clear sleeve. 196 pages. Insured post. The great stories of Ancient Eire have a fantasy, beauty, an enchantment with a special place in romantic literature. Padraic Colum, an Irish writer and one of our foremost storytellers, re-tells the most striking narratives of the Irish sagas as Finn, Cuchullain and others. The Frenzied Prince begins with a king whose rule had historical significance in the British Isles. Prince Suivne's madness makes a frame for the more ancient tales as told to him by King Donald's storytellers in an effort to free him of his madness. Fascination and amusement abound in these fantasies, superstitions, and humors and sets free the strange, spirited, and romantic Ireland of the middle ages. Mr. Colum presents scholarly notes elucidating Irish history and tradition in the final chapter. Colum, born in the Town of Dunleary, first learned from those who had inherited the aural arts, traveling countryside storytellers, how to keep the living speech, the flow, style and fantasy . He grew into a young poet and dramatist in Dublin, where his writing brought him to England and thence to America where he made his home. Colum was inspired to re-tell for children the great stories of the world and penned more than twenty remoulding Greek, Norse, Celtic, and even Polynesian myths and folklore. Willy Pogany's heroic illustrations intersperced throughout capture the dynamic, dramatic power of the characters. Pogany was born in Szeged, Hungary and at first studied engineering, but when still young went to Paris and London becoming a famous artist. He also then landed in America becoming one of the most diverse and imaginative artists of his day embracing nearly every form of classical art. His compositions are remarkable for their imaginations, strong sense of design and beautifully weave into these tales within a tale.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. Illus. by Pogany, Willy. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.