Deirde is one of several 'classic tales' of irish literature. in the early 1950's a modern retelling of the tale was done by James Stephens. (the book is out of print)

Stephens enjoyed some small notarity in US in the 1950's and toured as a visiting professer. His popularity in ireland lasted well into the 1990's (and might still linger) Stephen's was a friend of James Joyce, and Joyce often said, "If i die before i finish Finigan's Wake, James (Stephens) is the man to finish it."

though his lecture tours were before my time, the popularity of his books and works lingered on in irish neighborhood near the universities he lectured at--and i grew up next to one.. (Fordham) Stephens poetry can be found in several anthologies.



my other obsession