From the Original of the Four Masters, from the earliest Historic
Period to the Conclusion in 1616; consisting of the Irish Text from the
Original MSS., and an English Translation, with copious Explanatory
Notes, an Index of Names, and an Index of Places, by JOHN O'DONOVAN,
Esq., LL.D., Barrister at Law; Professor of the Celtic Language,
Queen's College, Belfast.
_Extract from the_ DUBLIN REVIEW.
"We can but hope, within the limited space at our disposal, to render a
scanty and imperfect measure of justice to a work of such vast extent and
varied erudition.... We would beg the reader, if he be disposed to doubt
our opinion, to examine almost every single page out of the four thousand
of which the work consists, in order that he may learn the true nature and
extent of Mr. O'Donovan's editorial labours. Let him see the numberless
minute verbal criticisms; the elaborate topographical annotations with
which each page is loaded; the historical, genealogical, and biographical
notices; the lucid and ingenious illustrations, drawn from the ancient
laws, customs, traditions, and institutions of Ireland; the parallelisms
and discrepancies of the narrative with that of other annalists, both
native and foreign; the countless authorities which are examined and
adjusted; the errors which are corrected; the omissions and deficiencies
supplied; in a word, the curious and various learning which is everywhere
displayed. Let him remember the mines from which all those treasures have
been drawn are, for the most part, unexplored; that the materials thus
laudably applied to the illustration of the text are in great part
manuscripts which Ussher and Ware, even Waddy and Colgen, no to speak of
Lynch and Lanigan, had never seen or left unexamined; many of them in a
language which is to a great extent obsolete."
A Prospectus of the Work will be forwarded gratis to any application made
to the Publishers.
Dublin: HODGES & SMITH, Grafton Street, Booksellers to the University.
London: LONGMAN & Co.; and SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & Co.
* * * * *
Now ready, small 4to., handsomely bound in cloth, 2l. 2s. 6d.; morocco, 2l.
12s. 6d.