A re-telling of the Irish saga. When first published, Gregory's version affected not only Yeats, but every important writer of the period. George Russell (AE) wrote: 'I never expect to read a more beautiful book...Your story of Deirdre is extraordinarily lovely, indeed the whole book...made my heart beat with a half painful pleasure...You have acted the fairy godmother to me and to many Irish people by bringing the good gift our hearts desired".