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Finn Mac Cool and the Small Men of Deeds
The Irish hero leaves his sick bed to assist in a kidnapping case.
This is a saga of Finn Mac Cool (based on an old Gaelic figure, Finn MacCumaill) and the small men who follow him, either helping or hindering his efforts. Several staples of the heroic tale are turned upside down here. These warriors haven't enough work to keep them busy, and spend much time on "picnics and bragging," or heckling Norsemenwho taunt them back. But one day as Finn nurses a morning headache, a giant appears and begs for help: the giant queen's newborn children are ever being stolen, and she wants Finn to guard them. He's flattered and agrees, even though he's temporarily without his men. So begins a picaresque adventure of comic deeds for garrulous Finn to brag aboutsometime in the future.
This is a saga of Finn Mac Cool (based on an old Gaelic figure, Finn MacCumaill) and the small men who follow him, either helping or hindering his efforts. Several staples of the heroic tale are turned upside down here. These warriors haven't enough work to keep them busy, and spend much time on "picnics and bragging," or heckling Norsemenwho taunt them back. But one day as Finn nurses a morning headache, a giant appears and begs for help: the giant queen's newborn children are ever being stolen, and she wants Finn to guard them. He's flattered and agrees, even though he's temporarily without his men. So begins a picaresque adventure of comic deeds for garrulous Finn to brag aboutsometime in the future.
88 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1987
About the author
Pat O'Shea
15 books34 followersPen name of Patricia Mary Shiels O'Shea
Pat O'Shea (22 January 1931 – 3 May 2007), was an award-winning and best-selling children's fiction writer. She was born in Galway and was the youngest of 5 children. Her first novel was the best-selling The Hounds of the Morrigan, which took 13 years to complete. It was finally published in 1985 by Oxford University Press, translated into five languages, and is still considered among the best classic children's books.
Born in Galway, O'Shea moved to England at the age of sixteen and worked in a bookshop. She began to write theatre plays in Manchester and got a scholarship from the British Art Council.
In the late 1960s her early theatre writing career proved unsuccessful, though it was supported by David Scase, director of the Library Theatre, Manchester and his successor Tony Colegate. She also tried writing for television, but that also failed to work out, so in 1969 she began to write short stories and poetry, as well as an unpublished comic novel.
By the early 1970s she began writing The Hounds of the Morrigan to please herself and close associates by producing something she could deem worthy of her favorite children's novels, but with little expectation of getting it published.
In poor health and well into her fifties at the time of that novel's first sudden success, she completed only a few chapters of the unpublished sequel in the subsequent decades, although those also remain highly regarded in their own right.
In 1988, she published a second children's book, Finn Mac Cool and the Small Men of Deeds, through the publisher Holiday. That book consisted of her retelling of folklore tales, and was illustrated by Stephen Lavis. In 1988 Horn Book Magazine included it in their annual list of notable children's books, giving it a Horn Book Fanfare Best books of the year award. In 1999, she published a third (and final) book, The Magic Bottle, which was published by Scholastic. It was also illustrated by Lavis.
She died in Manchester in 2007, at age 76.
Pat O'Shea (22 January 1931 – 3 May 2007), was an award-winning and best-selling children's fiction writer. She was born in Galway and was the youngest of 5 children. Her first novel was the best-selling The Hounds of the Morrigan, which took 13 years to complete. It was finally published in 1985 by Oxford University Press, translated into five languages, and is still considered among the best classic children's books.
Born in Galway, O'Shea moved to England at the age of sixteen and worked in a bookshop. She began to write theatre plays in Manchester and got a scholarship from the British Art Council.
In the late 1960s her early theatre writing career proved unsuccessful, though it was supported by David Scase, director of the Library Theatre, Manchester and his successor Tony Colegate. She also tried writing for television, but that also failed to work out, so in 1969 she began to write short stories and poetry, as well as an unpublished comic novel.
By the early 1970s she began writing The Hounds of the Morrigan to please herself and close associates by producing something she could deem worthy of her favorite children's novels, but with little expectation of getting it published.
In poor health and well into her fifties at the time of that novel's first sudden success, she completed only a few chapters of the unpublished sequel in the subsequent decades, although those also remain highly regarded in their own right.
In 1988, she published a second children's book, Finn Mac Cool and the Small Men of Deeds, through the publisher Holiday. That book consisted of her retelling of folklore tales, and was illustrated by Stephen Lavis. In 1988 Horn Book Magazine included it in their annual list of notable children's books, giving it a Horn Book Fanfare Best books of the year award. In 1999, she published a third (and final) book, The Magic Bottle, which was published by Scholastic. It was also illustrated by Lavis.
She died in Manchester in 2007, at age 76.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 12, 2011
There are several versions of myths about seven brothers, each with a different talent. In this version the brothers' abilities are even more exaggerated than usual, and they use them to help a rather malingering Finn mac Cool save the baby of the King of the Giants, whose other sons have all been kidnapped at birth.
The story is charmingly told, humorous and sympathetic without being cutesy or affected. Finn has a headache and wants to be left alone, but when he hears of the giant king's sadness he wants to help him. Finn is motivated not by desire for fame or reward, but by paternal sympathy. With sobs the giant tells him of the stolen babies, and Finn
Extra points for great phrases like as sure as a dead goat can't skip.
The story is charmingly told, humorous and sympathetic without being cutesy or affected. Finn has a headache and wants to be left alone, but when he hears of the giant king's sadness he wants to help him. Finn is motivated not by desire for fame or reward, but by paternal sympathy. With sobs the giant tells him of the stolen babies, and Finn
thought of his own son Oisin reared to manhood and he thought of his grandson Oscar and how sweet he was. He remembered that he had said that he would love Oscar tomorrow but not today; and he knew he was lucky to be able to say such a thing. Pity for the king filled his heart.
Extra points for great phrases like as sure as a dead goat can't skip.
October 18, 2017
Delightful. The illustrations match the tone of the story very well.
c-on-deck-audio-and-ebooks
December 9, 2023To see if I like the author's tone/style before getting into The Hounds of the Morrigan.
April 29, 2024
We've checked out pictures books about Finn MacCool from the library before, so this longer tale caught my eye. Well illustrated and an engaging tall tale from Ireland.
September 22, 2011
"Who can take an act of friendship and weigh it in his hands?"
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews