Jeremiah Curtin was a folklorist and and translator from America. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1835, he had a poor childhood in Wisconsin as the eldest of eight children. After his father died, he sold his shares of the farm to finance his education at Harvard. It was there that he first studied folklore, and when he graduated, he moved to New York City, and eventually traveled to Russia. On a trip to Wisconsin, he met his future wife, Alma, and the two traveled to Russia, writing and traveling.
The duo traveled back to the States, and began ethnographical work in California, and Curtin began translating Polish works, however, one of his greatest interests was folklore and this would culminate into several collections of folk tales. While Alma wrote with him, Curtin rarely gave her credit, thus all of their works are in his name. Their collections included Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland, Myths and Folk-Tales of the Russians, Western Slavs and Magyars, Hero Tales of Ireland, and more. They would collect these tales from local residents of the areas they traveled in, and then mark them down for generations to enjoy. After her husband’s death in 1906, Alma published several books based on his notes and their travels. The epitaph of his gravestone was written by Theodore Roosevelt and claims Curtin spoke over 70 languages.
There was an old fisherman once in Erin who had a wife and one son. The old fisherman used to go about with a fishing-rod and tackle to the rivers and lochs and every place where fish resort, and he was killing salmon and other fish to keep the life in himself and his wife…
There was once a king in Erin, and he had an only son. While this son was a little child his mother died. After a time the king married and had a second son. The two boys grew up together; and as the elder was far handsomer and better than the younger, the queen became…
The Shee an Gannon was born in the morning, named at noon, and went in the evening to ask his daughter of the king of Erin. “I will give you my daughter in marriage,” said the king of Erin; “you won’t get her, though, unless you go and bring me back the tidings that I…
There was a king in Erin long ago, and this king went out hunting one day, but saw nothing till near sunset, when what should come across him but a black pig. “Since I’ve seen nothing all day but this black pig, I’ll be at her now,” said the king; so he put spurs to…
King Aadh Cúrucha lived in Tir Conal, and he had three daughters, whose names were Fair, Brown, and Trembling. Fair and Brown had new dresses, and went to church every Sunday. Trembling was kept at home to do the cooking and work. They would not let her go out of the house at all; for…
There was once a weaver in Erin who lived at the edge of a wood; and on a time when he had nothing to burn, he went out with his daughter to get fagots for the fire. They gathered two bundles, and were ready to carry them home, when who should come along but a…
There was a king in Desmond whose name was Coluath O’Hara, and he had three daughters. On a time when the king was away from home, the eldest daughter took a thought that she’d like to be married. So she went up in the castle, put on the cloak of darkness which her father had,…
On a time there lived a king and a queen in Erin, and they had an only son. They were very careful and fond of this son; whatever he asked for was granted, and what he wanted he had. When grown to be almost a young man the son went away one day to the…