Publisher's Synopsis
The Snake's Pass is an 1890 novel by Bram Stoker. It centers on the legend of Saint Patrick defeating the King of the Snakes in Ireland. The novel also centers on the troubled romance between the main character and a local peasant girl. The Snake's Pass was Bram Stoker's second imperial fiction novel, and was first published in the United Kingdom in 1890. The novel is a precursor to Stoker's Dracula but was his only novel written in his native land of Ireland. The novel's main protagonist, Arthur Severn, is traveling to the country of Clare to visit friends. Arthur has the desire to improve his Irish knowledge, thus he makes a detour to West Ireland. While riding along with the driver, Andy, a severe storm begins and Andy suggests the two men stop traveling for the night and stay in the small town of Carnacliff. Andy takes them to a local bar where a man named Jerry Scanlan tells the legendary story of Shleenanaher. The story begins with Saint Patrick who drove all the snakes out of Ireland, however, The King of Snakes would remain in the lake residing in Shleenanaher, and he would only leave if he did not have his crown, thus he hid his crown in the mountains of the hills. The King then tells Saint Patrick that he will come in another form so that he will be able to watch his crown closely. The impending fog, otherwise known as bog, that occasionally sweeps over the town, is said to be the form the King has decided to come back in to watch his crown. After Jerry finishes his story, an old, drunk man by the name of Mr. Moynahan speaks up about the hidden treasure that is also somewhere in the hills. In his story, Arthur learns that Moynahan's father was present in the altercation of the Frenchmen hiding the treasure.
