For untold generations in countless Irish cottages, in front of peat-fueled fires, some of the gayest, most fanciful, and most sparkling folk tales that ever caused young eyes to grow brighter and young hearts to beat faster have been and still are told. Fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, even great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers repeat the stories that thrilled them as youngsters - that they heard from their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents - to their own youngsters. * * * In this book are 46 of the most popular of the Celtic stories, each one richly endowed with all the magic and charm, all the humor and color of the vivid Irish imagination. These stories, some of them more than a thousand years old, are as fascinating today as they were when Connla of the Fiery Hair, the Horned Women, Conall Yellowclaw, Fin, Cormac, and Kayn Mac Loy roamed Irish field, glenn, and forest. * * * Published in 1892, "Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales," is #2 of 6 books of collected stories by Joseph Jacobs. This edition contains all 26 of the original stories, all 45 of the original illustrations (plus 26 drop-cap letter blocks) by John D. Batten, and 25 pages of notes and references. The stories are: Connla and the Fairy Maiden; Guleesh; The Field of Boliauns; The Horned Women; Conall Yellowclaw; Hudden and Dudden and Donald O'Neary; The Shepherd of Myddvai; The Sprightly Tailor; The Story of Deirdre; Munachar and Manachar; Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree; King O'Toole and His Goose; The Wooing of Olwen; Jack and His Comrades; The Shee An Gannon and The Gruagach Gaire; The Story-Teller at Fault; The Sea-Maiden; A Legend of Knockmany; Fair, Brown, and Trembling; Jack and His Master; Beth Gellert; The Tale of Ivan; Andrew Coffey; The Battle of the Birds; Brewery of Eggshells; and The Lad with the Goat-Skin. * * * Published in 1894, "More Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales" is #4 of the series. This edition contains all 20 of the original stories, all 46 of the original illustrations (with 20 drop-cap letter blocks), and 13 pages of notes and references. Included are: The Fate of the Children of Lir; Jack the Cunning Thief; Powel, Prince of Dyfed; Paddy O'Kelly and the Weasel; The Black Horse; The Vision of MacConglinney; Dream of Owen O'Mulready; Morraha; The Story of the McAndrew Family; The Farmer of Liddesdale; The Greek Princess and the Young Gardener; The Russet Dog; Smallhead and the King's Sons; The Legend of Knockgrafton; Elidore; The Leeching of Kayn's leg; How Fin went to the Kingdom of the Big Men; How Cormac Mac Art went to Faery; The Ridere of Riddles; and The Tail. * * * Finally, #6 in the series, published in 1916, is "European Folk and Fairy Tales." This book has legends and tales for the young people of the European continent. These are tales full of suspense, action, ghosts, magic, wicked stepmothers, love lost, imps, and fairies. And not all have happily-ever-after endings! This edition contains all 25 of the original stories and all 48 illustrations, with 31 pages of Mr. Jacobs' notes and references. The stories are: The Cinder-Maid; All Change; The King of the Fishes; Scissors; Beauty and the Beast; Reynard and Bruin; The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Speaking Bird; The Language of Animals; The Three Soldiers; A Dozen at a Blow; The Earl of Cattenborough; The Swan Maidens; Androcles and the Lion; Day-Dreaming; Keep Cool; The Master Thief; The Unseen Bridegroom; The Master-Maid; A Visitor from Paradise; Inside Again; John the True; Johnnie and Grizzle; The Clever Lass; Thumbkin; and Snowwhite. * * * This book is volume two of Flying Chipmunk's Joseph Jacobs two-volume collection.