This could be called an illustrated Readers Digest of the Mabinogion. At 88 pages including illustrations, which are excellent, this is a small work. Some branches of the Mabinogion are done well if briefly, others are lacking.
This collection of medieval Welsh tales was selected from the Mabinogion myth cycle. They serve as great examples of the old stories of the Celtic Gods who lived on the Island of the Mighty before the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons came. These gods were pushed into mythic status by the coming of Christianity and they live on in these tales. With vibrant Welsh names like Branwen, Bendigeidfran, and Cigfa, these male and female heroes of yesteryear encounter beautiful enchantresses, powerful kings of the underworld, and the magical cauldron of rebirth. These are powerful tales of an ancient time when giants roamed the earth and magic was afoot. They rely on familiar folk tale archetypes, but have distinctly Celtic elements that make them unique. The book was originally written for adults, and it includes stunning illustrations that include an artistically rendered nude image of a woman, but the tales themselves are accessible to readers and listeners of all ages. This book would be a good addition to any folk tale collection.
Purchase here:- Tales From The Mabinogion
Paperback: 88 pages
Rating: 5 Stars
Review by Bill Tillman
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May 13, 2010
Tales From The Mabinogion - Gwyn Thomas / Kevin Crossley-Holland
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Bill Tillman will be writing a series of short reviews of every version of the Mabinogion known to man over the next few weeks. Bill is a volunteer contributor to AmeriCymru and a contestant at our forthcoming live story telling event 'Night of The Living Bards' at the Left Coast Eisteddfod on October 8th in Portland, Oregon. If you are interested in the oral story telling tradition, a fan of Welsh medieval literature or just looking for a good night out with ripping yarns and fine whisky click on the links below for more details:-
ReplyDeleteLEFT COAST EISTEDDFOD 'THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING BARDS' - BUY TICKETS HERE!
Read the event details HERE
Facebook event page HERE