Irish American Folklore in New England

Millions of Irish came to America in the second half of the nineteenth century. Quinn, who teaches at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, wondered how much traditional Irish folklore and customs remained in the second and third generations of Irish in America. To find out, she interviewed a number of people of Irish ancestry in New England. She begins with the Irish language, long suppressed by the British in Ireland, but a first language for many of the immigrants. The use made by children of immigrants of unknown Irish words is treated throughout the book, becoming a metaphor for the acculturation process. Quinn discusses Irish work in America and ways in which Irish identity was preserved, through food, sayings, religion, memories and music. She notes how some customs altered or were dropped. For instance, the hero tales that were the source of Irish storytelling were abandoned in favor of stories about immigrant triumph over adversity. Quinn expects her work to be used as a textbook but her lively writing style makes this book accessible to anyone interested in the Irish in America or those who always wanted to know just what their grandparents were calling them in Gaelic. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)