'These legends are the action-packed stories - of ancient heroes, huge battles, attempted invasions, prophecies and spells, clashes between the underworld and the real world, abductions, love affairs and feasts - which have fascinated the Irish mind for more than 2,000 years . . .Most of them have an extraordinary, stark narrative sweep, with a marvellous sense of detail . . .Heaney writes directly and fluently . . .with great tact and skill.'

Sunday Times