Denis Florence MacCarthy (1817-1882) was an Irish poet, translator, and biographer, born in Lower O'Connell Street, Dublin. In April, 1834, before he was yet seventeen, he contributed his first verses to the Dublin Satirist. In 1846 he was called to the Irish bar, but never practised. In the same year he edited The Poets and Dramatists of Ireland, which he prefaced with an essay on the early history and religion of his countrymen. He also edited about this time The Book of Irish Ballads (by various authors), with an introductory essay from his pen on ballad poetry in general. His poems are distinguished by a noble sense of harmony and an exquisite sympathy with natural beauty. One of the most graceful of Irish lyrists, he is entirely free from the morbidity and fantastic sentiment so much affected by modern poets. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.