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Deirdre of the Sorrows

A Spoken Word CD

Deirdre is a Winner of a Storytelling World Honor's Award

picture of cd cover'Deirdre' is Ireland's most beloved romance. In 1899, Douglas Hyde called this legend "the finest and best conceived...of any in the whole range of our literature." In 1905, Celtic author Charles Squire said, "Gaelic romance is summed up in the one word, Deirdre."

Set in a violent landscape of earthen fortresses and tribal conflicts, 'Deirdre of the Sorrows' is said to be based on true events that happened around 1000 BC. Called one of the 'three sorrows' of storytelling by the Irish bards, it was one of three tragic tales that a shenachie (Celtic storyteller) must be able to relate. Over time many versions of this haunting tale have made their way into Celtic storytelling and literature. Most of the adaptations avoided the searing imagery and cultivated a tamer version that prettified the ending. There was only one source that kept the edge of the original - a visceral tension that hovered between sweetness and cruelty. This was 'The Tain' or 'Cattle Raid'- the oldest vernacular epic in Western literature. Diane's version is based solidly on Thomas Kinsella's translation of "The Tain." The presence of the druid, the divine rights of the high king, the harshness of the life and the taboos hidden in the geis (a sworn promise given) are drawn from this version and from Diane's extensive research into the life and world of the pre-Christian Celts.

Download Sample Tracks:
Excerpt from Track 2: At the Feast of Samhain (mp3 - 1:38 minutes) Excerpt from Track 6: Deirdre and Naoise Meet (mp3 - 4:21 minutes)

Released May 2004, 43.18 minutes.
Recommended for Adults; Grades 10 and above.

$15.00 each

ISBN 0-9651669-2-9-1-0 43.18 min ©2004 Living Myth Audio All rights reserved