Irish fairy tales arthur rackham biography

There are more worlds than one, and in many ways they are unlike each other. But joy and sorrow, or, in other words, good and evil, are not absent in their degree from any of the worlds, for wherever there is life there is action, and action is but the expression of one or other of these qualities. ~James Stephens, Irish Fairy Tales

Irish Fairy Tales was translated by / retold by James Stephens, a friend of James Joyce, and published with Arthur Rackham's illustrations in 1920.

Despite the title, the stories are not the usual fare and perhaps not well-suited for children, with adultery and violence being common themes. I particularly like the Story of Tuan mac Cairill, an introvert who retains his memories from previous incaranations going back to the beginning of time in Ireland.

Since these aren't familiar tales, a hint about a few of the stories:

The Boyhood of Fionn - Fionn is raised in secret by female druids, poets, a robber, a kin