The Crock of Gold (Mint Editions (Humorous and Satirical Narratives)) - Hardcover

Stephens, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1513220063 ISBN 13: 9781513220062

Publisher: Mint Editions, 2021

Synopsis

The Crock of Gold (1912), one of three original novels by James Stephens, is a work only a master of fiction and folklore could imagine. Taking up the major philosophical and psychological concerns of the early-twentieth century―over a decade before works by T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf, among others, would cement literary Modernism’s place in history―Stephens’ novel is a groundbreaking and important work.

The text centers on the Philosopher and his wife, the Thin Woman, who undergo a series of journeys and harrowing trials. Faced with danger both human and divine, the two characters are forced to weather the winds of change in order to change themselves. Divided into six books, The Crock of Gold―no doubt inspired by the Irish oral tradition of storytelling―follows the Philosopher’s quest to save the most beautiful woman in the world; his encounter with the gods who have captured her; his return home and arrest for murder (he has been framed by leprechauns incensed at the loss of their crock of gold); and finally, the Thin Woman’s quest to find the fabled Three Infinites.

James Stephens’ The Crock of Gold is perhaps unparalleled in its ability to weave together ancient narrative techniques, mythological sources, and such dominant themes of its day as gender equality and humanity’s quest for self-understanding beyond the traditional boundaries of faith and religion. It is also a darkly comic novel, full of ironic political commentary and suspiciously human conversations situated within the animal world. Most popular of Stephens’ works, The Crock of Gold conceals in its humorous, irreverent outlook a deeply serious, ultimately reverent love for the human soul―unsurprising for an author whose life was marked with difficulty from the very beginning.

With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this new edition of James Stephens’ The Crock of Gold is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

About this title

About the Author

James Stephens (1882-1950) was an Irish novelist, poet, and folklorist. Adopted at a young age, Stephens spent much of his childhood on the streets. Having managed to make his way through school, Stephens became a solicitor’s clerk before developing an interest in Irish Republicanism and learning to read, write, and speak the Irish language. As he became politically active, he dedicated himself to writing versions of Irish myths, as well as composing original novels. A friend and colleague of James Joyce and George William Russell, James Stephens is an important and underrecognized figure in twentieth century Irish literature.

From the Back Cover

A man known only as the Philosopher embarks on a quest to rescue the beautiful Cáitilin Ni Murrachu from the wild, ancient gods Pan and Aengus. On the way, he finds himself caught between leprechauns and the law, between the woman he loves and the woman he was destined to marry. The Crock of Gold, a novel of wit and wonder from the mind of James Stephens, is notable not only for its unique blend of modernity and myth, but also for its undaunted search for the heart of what is human.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1513220063
• ISBN 13: 9781513220062
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 156