The Midnight Court - Paperback

by Brian Merriman (Author), Celia Fréine (Translator)

Banned and beloved in equal measure, The Midnight Court is a canonical eighteenth-century text widely considered to be the greatest comic Irish poem. Despite its simple story line, Merriman's poem addresses a wide range of themes, from its satirical treatment of sexuality to its biting social commentary. This volume, the first critical edition, offers readers a fluid translation and five essays that contextualize the poem, making it an ideal text for any student of eighteenth-century Irish literature. Written specifically for the nonspecialist reader, Ó Conchubhair's edition contains notes, a glossary, a map, and explanations of the rhyme, meter, form, and genre that traditionally puzzle those unfamiliar with the Irish-language tradition. The essays explore the text's themes and allusions, acquainting readers with the poem's controversies and critics' competing interpretations of Merriman's achievement.

Author Biography

Brian Merriman (1749-1805) was an Irish-language poet and teacher.

David Marcus (1924-2009) was the literary editor of the Irish Press, helped found Poolbeg Press, and edited over thirty volumes of Irish short stories and poetry. He authored several novels, short story collections, and the autobiography Oughtobiography: Leaves from the Diary of a Hyphenated Jew.

Brian Ó Conchubhair is associate professor of Irish language and literature at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of numerous articles and Irish-language instructional materials, and the editor of Why Irish? Irish Language and Literature in Academia.