Signs of Weakness

"Are early Irish stories influenced by the Bible or transcriptions of pre-Christian Celtic lore? Layzer explores the practical and theoretical difficulties of determining 'influence' in ancient writing, and the relationship between the oral and the written, literacy and literature and the disciplines of Irish Studies and Biblical Studies." "This study matches Samson, Jonah and Esther with three heroes from early Irish literature, exploring weakness and heroic strength, gender and power, frailty and ambiguity. The comparison illuminates each tradition and highlights the richness of two ancient narrative traditions."--Jacket.