Irish Children’s Literature and the Poetics of Memory

This insightful work explores how Irish mythology shapes children's literature through powerful patterns of memory and storytelling. Long examines how landscape, time, and identity intertwine across two centuries of Irish children's books, revealing how mythological narratives create bridges to cultural heritage. The study demonstrates how the language of myth allows authors and readers to engage with Ireland's complex history through accessible literary forms. This approach provides a fresh framework for understanding how cultural memory operates in children's literature.

What makes this analysis particularly compelling is its focus on recurring mythological patterns that persist from nineteenth-century works to contemporary twenty-first century publications. Young readers interested in literary criticism will appreciate how Long connects ancient narratives to modern storytelling techniques, showing how mythology remains vibrantly relevant. The book offers valuable insights for anyone curious about how cultural identity forms through the stories we tell children. Ultimately, it reveals how Irish children's literature serves as a living repository of collective memory and national imagination.