The King Of Ireland's Son Book

I first read this book as a child, and have lost track of the number of times I've reread it. Coming back to it as an adult, I am stunned at the beauty of Colum's language and at his handling of plot. There is a story within a story within a story, with smaller tales that reflect on the main ones and often involve the same characters. It's just astounding. And the stories themselves often have an eerie beauty and an undercurrent of sadness. But there's lots of humor, too, and lots of adventure, and, among the characters, girls as well as boys get to show spunk and initiative. My personal favorite is Morag, the serving girl who helps Flann the orphan boy escape from servitude to a giant. I also love the Spae woman, and Rory the fox! If you read it, I'm sure you'll find favorite lines and characters of your own.