Join today and start reading your favorite books for Free!
Rate this book!
Write a review?
Per many reviewers who have commented here, the ancient language of the original [ Gaelic: Togail Bruidne da Derga ] lost some verve in this translation. Use of modern vernacular is one reason. Other authors, mostly academics, have written at length about bits of this tale recycled by James Joyce in titles Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. I have read and re-read this translation for comparison with other translations of the old texts. A different approach than a pure linguistic translation is to look...
Maybe it's just me, but when I am reading an epic, I expect elevated language and the basic elements of an epic. I did not even finish this. There were more sentences about giggly wenches with jiggly, "cone-shaped" bosoms and men's "bods" than any interesting, plot-forwarding information. If this is truly a direct interpretation of the Celtic epic, then I am not interested.
Perhaps the saddest thing in literature is when a great work is re-written as pap. Modern colloquialisms and trite interaction between characters may produce a more accessible version, accessible to folks who cannot appreciate the story without the lowbrow treatment.
I really enjoyed this story - Eickhoff has come up with a highly readable 'lads of old' version. I wonder how close the translation is? Boys-bragging-around-the-fire really does have a long, long tradition if this be accurate ;-)Be warned! Lots of great magic, and head lopping ... and more tits and bums than you can keep track of. Although most is left up to the warrior's imagination.Rollicking good fun! I must find out how to pronounce all their names.
overly modern interpretation made is unbearable