The Curse Of The Wise Woman

A young man in Ireland in the late 19th Century sees the beauty in a bog or piece of ground that is about to be torn up for development. His only allies in saving this bog are the young woman he loves, an Irish fighter who once considered shooting him, a wise woman living on the edge of the bog and her very wise but unlettered son. Why it's on the list A wonderful book and one of the very first novels to deal with an environmental issue. This story takes you just to the edge of all that is wonderful about Irish mythology. Mostly, the book is about forgiveness, love and the marvels of the characters world. It is carefully plotted, has beautiful prose, delightful characterization, elegant use of symbolism, wonderful imagery and detailed descriptions of the sporting life which thrill the heart. This is literature but only in the sense that you won't know it is literature because you are enjoying it. Read if you like Lord Dunsany is an acknowledged master whose work has become a little forgotten. This book is an excellent example of how great this author was.