This is the story of Cuchulain, the Champion of Ulster, the greatest of all the Heroes of the Red Branch. The Cuchulain Saga belongs to the Celts, the people of Ireland and Wales and the Highlands of Scotland, just as the story of Beowulf belongs to the Anglo-Saxons.

So it is fitting that Rosemary Sutcliff whose beautiful retelling of Beowulf was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the notable books for children published in 1962, should now turn to the fiery and imaginative story of the Hounf of Ulster.

"The boy who takes up the spear and shield of manhood on this day will become the greatest and most renowned of all the warriors of Ireland; men will follow at his call to the world's end, and his enemies will shudder at the thunder of his chariot wheels, and the harpers shall sing of him while green Ireland yet rises above the sea..."

Cuchulain was only a boy when he heard the Druid Cathbad speak this prophecy, but he went immediately to this kinsman, King Conor Mac Nessa, to beg that he might be granted the arms of manhood that day.

In the years that followed, Cuchulain proved his right to the title of Champion of Ireland, he won the proud and beautiful Emer as his wife, and he witnessed the tragedy of Deirdre and the Sons of Usna. When Queen Maeve of Connacht led the Host of Ireland against Ulster, he stood alone in her path, to halt the army and to slay her champions. For this he earned Maeve's undying hatred and she was never to rest in her search for vengeance until the day when Cuchulain was lured by treachery and witchcraft to his death.

Rosemary Sutcliff has woven the legends of the Irish hero into a book that catches to a remarkable degree the epic and tragic quality of the original.

From the dust jacket of the E.P. Dutton American edition