Pádraic Colum (8 December 1881 – 11 January 1972) was a leading figure of the Celtic Revival at the turn of the 20th century. He was an author, poet, novelist, playwright and dramatist, and collector of folklore.
He was associated with a number of the leading Irish writers of the time, including William Butler Yeats, Lady Augusta Gregory, and Æ (George William Russell). He also joined the Gaelic League, and was a member of the first board of the Abbey Theatre, founded by Yeats and Lady Gregory. He became a regular user of the National Library of Ireland, where he met James Joyce and the two became lifelong friends.
He collected Irish folk tales and folk songs. He began to write children’s books, introducing classical literature to a new generation. The King of Ireland’s Son was published in 1916. It is the story of the eldest son of the King of Ireland and his adventurous quest for his love, Fedelma, the Enchanter’s Daughter, who was kidnapped by the King of the Land of Mist.
This edition of Colum’s The King of Ireland’s Son is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and is illustrated by Willy Pogany. There are also pictures from the life of Padraic Colum.
