Deirdre of the Sorrows
Deirdre of the Sorrows
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1910
Book Brief
72
Play • Fiction
Ireland • Medieval
1910
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Deirdre of the Sorrows by J. M. Synge, adapted from the Ulster Cycle, revolves around Deirdre, a young woman whose beauty is prophesied to cause bloodshed. Conchubor, the High King of Ulster, plans to marry her, but she falls in love with Naoise. They elope to escape the king, but fate and conflict catch up with them.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
148 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
J. M. Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows blends Irish mythology with lyrical dialogue, earning praise for its poetic language and emotional depth. While some critics find its pacing uneven and the characters less developed than in Synge's earlier works, the play's evocative portrayal of tragic fate remains compelling and poignant.
Who Should Read Deirdre of the Sorrows?
A reader who enjoys Deirdre of the Sorrows by J. M. Synge would likely appreciate dramatic literature with roots in Irish mythology and poetic dialogue. Fans of W. B. Yeats' The Countess Cathleen or John Millington Synge's own The Playboy of the Western World will find this play particularly enthralling due to its lyrical nature and exploration of fate and tragedy.
148 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
72
Play • Fiction
Ireland • Medieval
1910
Adult
18+ years
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