=O’BYRNE, W. Lorcan.= B. in Dublin, 1845. Son of Christopher O’Byrne, of Ballinacor, Co. Wicklow. Delighted from earliest youth in Irish lore of all kinds. Held a position in the Education Office during the greater part of his life. D. 1913. His books, though popular in style, were the result of much patient research. ⸺ A LAND OF HEROES. Pp. 224. (_Blackie_). 2_s._ 6_d._ Well illustr. by J. H. Bacon. (N.Y.: _Scribners_). 1.25. 1899. “Intended to reach the level of children.” Very interesting Introduction. The book is a series of Irish hero tales from various cycles, including the best-known (Sons of Tuirean, Lir, Usnach, &c.), and the Romance of the early kings very much as in Miss Hull’s _Pagan Ireland_. The book contains a larger number of tales than any other except the most expensive. The bare story is told without any attempt to work up the materials into poetic or dramatic form. ⸺ KINGS AND VIKINGS. Pp. 240. (_Blackie_). 2_s._ 6_d._ Six illustr. by Paul Hardy. _n.d._ (1900). (N.Y.: _Scribners_). 1.25. Drawn from published translations of Gaelic MSS., _e.g._, Standish H. O’Grady’s _Silva Gadelica_; Dr. Todd’s edition of the _Wars of the Gael and Gall_; Dr. O’Donovan’s _Battle of Magh Rath_, &c. Contents: stories of early Christian times, chiefly from the lives of St. Patrick, St. Brigid, St. Columbkille, and St. Brendan; the trial of the Bards; the battles of Dunbolg, Moira, &c.; stories of the Danish invasions and in particular of Brian Borumha. Full of good information, but not strong in narrative interest. ⸺ CHILDREN OF KINGS. Pp. 240. (_Blackie_). 2_s._ 6_d._ Illustr. by Paul Hardy. 1904. “The aim of this book is to present tales from Three Cycles of Romance, viz., the Cuchulain, the Ossianic, and the Arthurian, interwoven after the manner of a Celtic design” (Introduction). The chief characters of the three cycles appear in various stories (there are thirty-one in all). A truly wonderful knowledge of the period embraced by these tales is displayed in the book, but the glamour of romance and the magic of words are wanting. ⸺ THE KNIGHT OF THE CAVE; or, The Quest of the Pallium. Pp. 248. (_Blackie_). 2_s._ 6_d._ Six illustr. by Paul Hardy. 1906.