Buy new:
-28% $12.29
FREE delivery Sunday, May 12 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$12.29 with 28 percent savings
List Price: $17.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Sunday, May 12 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, May 8. Order within 20 hrs 16 mins
In Stock
$$12.29 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.29
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$11.55
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may be missing bundled media. All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may be missing bundled media. See less
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, May 8. Order within 31 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$12.29 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.29
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Tain (Penguin Classics) Paperback – February 24, 2009

by Ciaran Carson (Translator, Introduction)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 277 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$12.29","priceAmount":12.29,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"29","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"19vxCuIhMzK9K2PLzaIHtN8a6wYyl1Eh0wy2qISAZkfYTi%2FvtYFjb%2F0QxcJ%2Bl%2FpPMrDMMOifPMKFTyDawu9mxSaIe7OcHo4%2FrNFPiUetlQWLDUMI4xO0D2dOhr0sIyvvDJBR3TlaItQ%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$11.55","priceAmount":11.55,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"55","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"19vxCuIhMzK9K2PLzaIHtN8a6wYyl1EhQMWUodkdlKcWKYgncds%2F4Kfaytj4ANDwk06atn6JyQVd4lH2KljyLAl479rgGF2QsrLJ709lVLNahJUUyMhxopRR%2FB%2Bu4ku0rWBrzeGZ7vSpvB6vWp08RcNIeZm4IQRcjebjQQsxKXxXsK5B5JXaKw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

'[A] brilliant and altogether engaging new translation' (Los Angeles Times) of the greatest epic in Irish literature

The Tain Bo Cualinge, centrepiece of the eighth-century Ulster cycle of heroic tales, is Ireland's great epic, on par with Beowulf and The Aeneid. The story of the emergence of a hero, a paean to the Irish landscape, and a bawdy and contentious marital farce, The Tain tells of a great cattle-raid, the invasion of Ulster by the armies of Medb and Ailill, Queen and King of Connacht, and their allies, seeking to carry off the great Brown Bull of Cualige. The hero of the tale is Cuchulainn, the Hound of Ulster, who resists the invaders single-handed while Ulster's warriors lie sick. In its first translation in forty years, Ciaran Carson brings this seminal work of Irish literature fully to life, capturing all of its visceral power in what acclaimed poets Seamus Heaney and Paul Muldoon individually called one of the best books of the year. 

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    February 24, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.07 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140455302
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140455304
  8. See all details
Next page
Kindle Comics
Kindle Comics & Graphic Novel Deals
Browse the latest deals and special offers on digital comics and graphic novels from Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse, Image, and many more. See more

Frequently bought together

The Tain (Penguin Classics)
$12.29
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Early Irish Myths and Sagas (Penguin Classics)
$12.19
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Mabinogion (Oxford World's Classics)
$13.19
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Carson's landmark translation, the first in forty years, brings this literary gem to life in a fresh, modern retelling that rivals Thomas Kinsella's classic translation of 1969."
- Booklist "In vivid prose Carson has harnessed . . . the tale's tremendous artistic power."-Irish Voice

About the Author

Ciaran Carson was born in Belfast in 1948. His poetry collections include The New Estate; The Irish for No, Belfast Confetti, which won the Irish Book Award and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize; First Language, which won the T.S. Eliot Prize; Opera et Cetera, which was a UK Poetry Book Society Choice; and The Twelfth of Never and The Ballad of HMS Belfast. He has written two prose books, The Pocket Guide to Irish Traditional Music and Last Night's Fun and one novel, Shamrock Tea. He is a member of Aosdána and lives in Belfast.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Original edition (February 24, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140455302
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140455304
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.07 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 277 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
277 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Zach J. Kamla
5.0 out of 5 stars A lot more than what I was expecting!
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2012
Verified Purchase
Irish mythology tends to focus on phenomenal feats of strength and skill, plenty of whimsy, and yarns full of love and vengeance, but the Tain goes beyond this to comment on some deeper themes, such as how the valiant fight on both sides of a conflict due to misplaced loyalty.

The first half of it is primarily amusing--because of a misogynistic act, the Ulstermen fall under a curse (said to resemble menstruation, but the length of the curse is as long as pregnancy) while the Connachtmen, under orders of the sexy but conniving Queen Medb and her quivering husband Ailill, attack in order to steel a prize bull. Cu Chulainn slows the massive army's progress by challenging its heroes to mortal combat one by one, and none can best him.

Eventually, though, we see characters growing and changing, such as when Medb's beautiful daughter who seduces heroes into fighting Cu Chulainn falls in love with one of them and expresses sincere remorse for sending men to their death. The tone changes as Cu Chulainn proves not to be invincible, and the battle between him and his best friend Ferdiad conveys some strong emotion from otherwise haughty characters.

There's no doubt that this story is perhaps the most highly-regarded work of Irish mythology, the only question is the translation. From what I've read, this is a great translation that sacrifices some of the literal meanings to convey the emotion and wit. I know translators who say that a literal translation of an idiomatic expression can and should be substituted with the equivalent in the target language because what is being said is far more important than how it's being said. Others may appreciate the colorful idioms and poetic devices that were used in the Gaelic which don't work well in English in order to get a feel for the linguistics. If you disagree, I'm sure there are translations on Amazon which will better suit your desired experience, but I found this translation able to roll a film in my head and am pleased with my choice.
19 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Robert Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Celtic world
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
A very interesting introduction to the ancient Irish world.
Helpful
 Report
Lewis F. Murphy
4.0 out of 5 stars Gaelic Horace at the Gate; Ulster vs. the Rest of Ireland Vol. I
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great, readable translation of the Tain Bo Cuailnge the most famous of Ancient Irish heroic stories. "Courage has a brutal core." "Where heroes congregate a Parliament of graves." "heroic deeds wrought in murk." "The friendship of her thighs." There is much to learn and appreciate in such ancient works. A peek into how they thought and fought, the clothes they wore, armor and arms, morals and sins, their boasting and their sorrows. Some very interesting characters. And two almost celestial bulls.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Good Irish mythology book.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Milissa A. Ackerley
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
Never read anything quite like this before. Still not sure how I feel about the story, but definitely recommend to anyone with an open mind.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
bought as a gift & the gifted already had it !
Helpful
 Report
Maggie
4.0 out of 5 stars Class Book
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
I really like the story of Chuhulain (and I know the spelling differs), but I had heard it from other sources so getting to read it was nice. This was an easy read. I never felt myself stuck because I was confused or bored. We read through it really quickly for class and discussed - everyone participated so you know that they at least got something from it.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
JD
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
love it
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Orlaith Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult read but good story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
It's a bit of a difficult to read because of the layout but still a good fun story and nice to read the original version of a story. I will say, the highlights were calming Cú Chulainn by flashing him and the term "long lad and acorns". I think you can figure out what that is, hahah!
2 people found this helpful
 Report
errol s.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in Australia on January 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent
Report
Anne Leith
5.0 out of 5 stars great
Reviewed in Canada on June 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
Very interesting book, great service
Report
Jill S.
4.0 out of 5 stars Caputring the epic feel
Reviewed in Germany on January 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
Ciaran Carson succeeds in translating the Tain in a manner that it becomes an epic and understand why Cu Chulainn is a legendary hero to these people. There is no canonical Tain, but several sources and recensions from several anonymous authors written in different styles. Ciaran used Recension I as base text, but added from the Book of Leinster, notably the pillow-talk scene between Ailill and Medb to set of the raid for the Ulster bull, and the episode between Fer Diad and Cu Chulainn. When Ailill's and edb's army encounter issues, the Ulster exiles in their army reveal their guerilla opponent is Cu Chulainn and tell of his prior deeds. Ciaran chose to leave out most of the pre-face stories, but summarizes them in the notes. In other words Ciaran's Tain becomes like the Illiad and other oral epics of long days past, in that the reader or listener is supposed to know the general story of the Trojan War and the background stories of its main characters. The Illiad does not chronologically start out with the begetting of Helen, or fostering of Paris, Agamemnon's sacrifice of his daughter, etc. Even in today's literature, a story of a character is not told chronologically at his or her conception. The raid is the main setting, and we are gradually introduced to Cu Chulainn's legend from hearsay to actual deeds, as well as other characters such as Fergus, in a manner that makes for both natural and great storytelling. In this way, we as modern readers are gradually pulled into understanding the values of the people of that time, especially regarding fair-play in battle and duels. Aside from being a superhero with an arrogance bordering the obnoxious (in the hearsay stories), Cu Chulainn also enforces his opponents to play by the battle rules of his culture (even though of course we can wonder how much fair-play there can be in a duel, when your opponent is Cu Chulainn). In that way, Ciaran manages to naturally make us familiar with the cultural mores of a time and people that are now alien to us. If someone were to lay a log across the road and leave a note with a challenge to only continue unless we can jump the log with our truck (chariot back then), we would consider it silly and plainly ignore the challenge, have people move the log away from the road and simply continue. But despite Medb and Ailill marching with the goal to steal a bull from Ulster's cattle, they consider it dishonorable just like Cu Chulainn if they do not meet his chalenge. In one go, the reader learns that stealing cattle is not by itself dishonorable (winner takes it all principle), but that there is an honor code when raiding. We might still think it folly and humorous, but our imaginative powers enables us to understand how Cu Chulainn then is such a hero in their eyes.

In some ways the translation remains formulaic and archaic, but not in a way that it is a hindrance. It is an epic story of a time that is archaic to us, and a translation of archaic texts. It is not meant to be a modern retelling of an old story, but rather a modernized recension, so that the old texts in an unfamiliar language become readable to us. This is for example noticeable in how Ciaran treats names of characters and places. On the one hand, Ciaran Carson preserves the gaelic names, but also adds their meaning in the text itself, as a character's name or a place name are often double layered, rather than explaining it all in notes. In that way we can enjoy the humorous layers in the story as much as the original listenere would have, without having to interrupt reading and read the notes.

That said, in some parts I feel the notes could have been expanded on, which is why I give it 4 stars and not 5. In general, I also think the Tain (and this counts for any adaption or translation or recension) could benefit from a crude map. This is not about a siege where all the characters are in one place, but on the move.
Report
Iorras
4.0 out of 5 stars Good historical account
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
Well researched, this book has good solid historical information unlike many books on the Celtic sagas which are rather nonsensical because their authors cannot be bothered to try to work out the relationships etc... and simply tip them all in in a mish mash because they can't make head or tail of them. This book makes sense and tell a good solid tale without whimsical stuff detracting from the tale. Recommend this book to the person who actually wants to know historical fact and not read just a fairy story.
12 people found this helpful
 Report