- Paperback: 604 pages
- Publisher: Boydell Press; New edition edition (4 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1843830396
- ISBN-13: 978-1843830399
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 11.9 x 4.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
38,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #56 in Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Mythology > Folklore
- #65 in Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Anthropology > Customs & Folklore > Folklore
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Product Description
Review
Outstanding value, with its authoritative translations of Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and medieval key texts. PENDRAGON
Product Description
The British Isles have a long tradition of tales of gods, heroes and marvels, hinting at a mythology once as relevant to the races which settled the islands as the Greek and Roman gods were to the classical world. The tales drawn together in this book, from a wide range of medieval sources, span the centuries from the dawn of Christianity to the age of the Plantagenets. The Norse gods which peopled the Anglo-Saxon past survive in Beowulf; Cuchulainn, Taliesin and the magician Merlin take shape from Celtic mythology; and saints include Helena who brought a piece of the True Cross to Britain, and Joseph of Arimathea whose staff grew into the Glastonbury thorn. Tales of the British Arthur are followed by legends of later heroes, including Harold, Hereward and Godiva. These figures and many others were part of a familiar national mythology on which Shakespeare drew for Lear, Macbeth and Hamlet, creating the famous versions that are known today. Here the original stories are presented. RICHARD BARBER's other books include The Holy Grail, King Arthur: Hero and Legend, Arthurian Legends: An Anthology and The Knight and Chivalry.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was happily surprised with this book as it is jam packed full of a large variety of British myths and legends including the full Mabinogion, Beauwolf, tales of Arthur and original legends of King Lear and Hamlet. The book spans a huge time scale starting with ancient tales such as the Talisen and other celtic mythologies. This book is much better value than buying all these tales separately and is a great source text for dipping into now and again. Recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A VERY valuable collection of early historical and legendary sources on the origins and tales of the ancient British. These include: the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Taliesin, Mabinogion, the Arthurian cycle amongst many others.
I capitalized 'very' because this book most notebly contains two sources practically impossible to obtain in print.
These are:
1. The 'Des grantz geanz', an Anglo-Norman poem written in the 12th century. It describes the earliest occupation of Britain by an ancient Greek princess called 'Albina', she was apparently 'very tall' and so gave birth to the legends of giants that first inhabited Albion (the earliest recorded name of Britain). The work was an intended prequel to Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae'.
2. The first pages of the 'Chronica Gentis Scotorum' or 'Scotichronicon' (an expansion of the former), a 15th century Scottish chronicle. The first substantial work every written on Scottish history, tracing the origin of Scotland to Scota, and Egyptian.
I capitalized 'very' because this book most notebly contains two sources practically impossible to obtain in print.
These are:
1. The 'Des grantz geanz', an Anglo-Norman poem written in the 12th century. It describes the earliest occupation of Britain by an ancient Greek princess called 'Albina', she was apparently 'very tall' and so gave birth to the legends of giants that first inhabited Albion (the earliest recorded name of Britain). The work was an intended prequel to Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae'.
2. The first pages of the 'Chronica Gentis Scotorum' or 'Scotichronicon' (an expansion of the former), a 15th century Scottish chronicle. The first substantial work every written on Scottish history, tracing the origin of Scotland to Scota, and Egyptian.
3 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are studying history then this is probably a good reference book. If you are looking for inspiration as a writer then I would say there are far better books out there.
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