Twenty Tales of Irish Saints by Alice Curtayne is a delightful book for people of all ages. Fascinating, interesting, and edifying, you will not want to put this book down.

The author puts finishing polish on each story so that it's bedside-ready for telling to your children. You don't have to be a teacher or experienced storyteller to make the story understandable and accessible to young minds. She includes any explanations, context, or other necessary information before the story proper. Moreover, like any good storyteller, she piques the interest of the reader (or listener) before she tells the story.

The tales themselves are delightful. Most are edifying as well as enthralling. Again and again we meet with fervent Irish men wanting to serve God in the most complete manner by becoming a priest -- and pursuing that goal with typical Irish zeal. We see heroic examples of trust in God, obedience, the virtue of religion, and many other virtues. The book is a cross-section of the Golden Age of Ireland, when the Emerald Isle's main export was fervent Catholic priests.

Reading this book was a real pleasure. I would highly recommended it to Catholics who want to become acquainted with sanctity. Reading about these saints helps us to know how a real saint speaks and behaves, and we are edified by their behavior. Getting acquainted with these early Irish saints helps us develop a deeper love and appreciation for the Catholic Faith, which meant so much to these holy men and women that they were willing to give up everything for it. It would be even more special for those who have some Irish heritage.