The Crock of Gold

James Stephens's 1912 fable "The Crock of Gold" has an odd place in the firmament of Irish literary modernism.

"The Crock of Gold" is truly unique, a mixture of philosophy, Irish folklore and the battle of the sexes all with charm, humour and good grace.

The novel is divided into six short books containing two central plot lines. All rotate around the astonishing story of what happens when Pan shows up in Ireland, what Angus Og does about it, and what becomes of the Daughter of Murrachu who gets caught in between them. A mad-cap quest ensues as fairies, leprechauns and a philosopher being hunted by the police all get involved in the antics of the two gods.