[Matthew Archdeacon]. Legends of Connaught, Irish Stories &c. &c. By the Author of “Connaught in 1798”. First Edition. NOT A REPRINT ! Dublin, Published by John Cumming, Lower Ormond Quay, MDCCCXXIX [1839]. 20.5 x 13 cm. xv (List of Subscribers & Preface), 406 pages. Contemporary half leather over textured cloth. Gilt title and decorations on spine. Blind decorations on boards. Very good condition. Binding rubbed and bumped. Edges and end papers age darkened. Rear hinge cracked. Front hinge started to crack. Binding shaky, but holding. Internally age darkened and mildly foxed.

The Author: Matthew Archdeacon, was born in Castlebar c. 1800 and became a schoolteacher. He published four novels, but died ‘in destitute circumstances’ in 1853.

COPAC locates the Cambridge, Glasgow, British Library and TCD copies only. WorldCat 1. Loeber A77. Brown 130.

The author states in his preface that each of the stories are based on fact. There are seven stories in this volume: Fitzgerald (based on the life of the notorious George Robert Fitzgerald, executed in 1786); The Banshee; The Election; Alice Thompson; M’Mahon; The Rebel’s Grave; and The Ribbonmen. Events in Connaught at the close of the eighteenth century.
His best known work was ‘Shawn na Soggarth’, The Priest Hunter and it is the rarest. Archdeacon died in 1853 in destitute circumstances.

There is an eight page list of subscribers drawn from Dublin, Castlebar, Sligo, Galway, Ballina,
Westport, Ballinrobe, Newport, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Swineford, Ballaghaderreen, Hollymount, Ballyhaunis, Cong, Foxford, Killala, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Castlerea, Loughrea, Athlone and Headford.

The Rev. William H Maxwell, author of ‘Wild Sports of the West’ and William Larminie author of ‘West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances’ were original subscribers. Other literary notables included: Lady Morgan, William Carleton, Daniel O’Connell, Thomas Davis, James Hardiman, and the Most Rev. John MacHale.

(Summary by De Burca Rare Books).

• Keywords: Classical & Old Literature · History · History of Ireland · Ireland · Irish Literature · Literature
• Language: English
• First edition
• Inventory Number: 102064AB

Our price: EUR 345,--