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Title: Celtic Myths and Legends by T. W. Rolleston ISBN: 0-486-26507-2 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 November, 1990 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.29 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: This surprised me twice
Comment: I was looking for a book on the Arthurian legends and, when someone gave me a gift-card, I bought this book without examining the item-page very closely.
First (set of) suprise(s): Arthur and the associated legends do not get much attention in the book, and the author makes the case that the Arthurian legends, as we know them today, are mangled, bastardized, condensed (several legends blended into one), and not very Celtic or Cymric at all. Tolleston's book was originally printed in 1911 and revised in 1917, and is actually a scholarly treatise on the Celts and Welsh, their origins, their stories, and their culture. The first section deals with cultural issues like language, art, architecture, religion, and death rituals. The rest talks of their myths and legends, as they connect with known facts, other cultures, and the Celtic and Cymric (Welsh) cultures.
Second surprise: After realizing this book was not what I expected it to be, I thought I'd have trouble enjoying it. It turned out to be both enjoyable and informative. I learned many things about the Celts and the Cymri, but the writing style was not the dry academic style found in most scholarly works seen today. A prime example of this can be seen when the author cites another piece of work to back up a statement. Today, when such a citation is made, it would probably look like, "Doe (1997) reported that similar objects were found in Southern France." Tolleston's version would be, "In the informative and thoughtful work written by Mr. John Doe in 1897, the claim is made that similar objects were found in Southern France." Maybe that seems a bit flowery or dramatic, but it's better reading.
Overall, "Celtic Myths and Legends" is a well-written, interesting, and informative book on the culture and stories of the Celts and the Cymri.
Rating: 4
Summary: Essential Text for studying Celtic Culture
Comment: This book, written about 1911 and reproduced many times, is an important historical and mostly complete view of the Celtic people, their culture, legends, religion, and relation to their influence on the development of western civilisation. However, this is not a book for light reading or for those with limited reading capability. It was written in the scholastic style, prevalant at the time. It is somewhat like a textbook, and was probably intended for collegiate or theological education. What makes this book important to anyone wishing to learn about the Celtic peoples, is the very accurate depiction of the myths and characters that comprise the Celtic pantheon. It not only depicts the mythology, but a very accurate depiction of the historical and cultural development of the Celts throughout Europe. It is well suited to individuals engaged in learning about pagan beliefs, or undergoing study of Celtic mystical belief systems for their spiritual development. Serious readers should not be inhibited from completion of this book, due to it's somewhat difficult and scholastic prose. If you want to learn all the necessary legends that influenced the development of modern Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and (partially) British culture, this book is an essential addition to your library. For more specific information on Celtic witchcraft, Druidic lifestyle, or current adaptations of Celtic paganism, more modern and specific texts would be needed for further study.
Rating: 4
Summary: nothing very original, but a good collection of works
Comment: The story style, written at the turn of the century will make it dull reading for some, but to people looking for the myths of the Celtics this is a good starting place. One of Dover Editions, it has 76 illustrations and woodcuttings helping support the stories. Now of the works are very original, no fresh look at the lore and its meaning, as I did with artist Carmon Deyo in the THREE FACES OF THE GODDESS, my essays and Carmon's paintings, which has won awards and approval for the new look at lore. But they are a basic foundation of tales and for someone looking to start learning about the Celtics lore and myths, it is a very good starting point. It covers the religion of the Celts, the cycle of the Irish Invasions, the Early Melesian Kings, The Ultorian Cycle, the Ossianic Cycle and the Fianna and the Isle of Women Warriors.
Highly recommended for those beginning the journey.
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Title: The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland ISBN: 0394748468 Publisher: Pantheon Books Pub. Date: 12 July, 1981 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: American Indian Myths and Legends by RICHARD ERDOES, ALFONSO ORTIZ ISBN: 0394740181 Publisher: Pantheon Books Pub. Date: 12 August, 1985 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: Irish Myths and Legends by Lady Gregory, William Butler Yeats ISBN: 0762404515 Publisher: Running Press Pub. Date: April, 1999 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: Celtic Myth and Legend: From Arthur and the Round Table to the Gaelic Gods and the Giants They Battled--The Celebrated Comprehensive Treasury of Celtic Mythology, Legend, and Poetry by Charles Squire, Sirona Knight ISBN: 1564145344 Publisher: New Page Books Pub. Date: March, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.99 |
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Title: Nordic Gods and Heroes by Padraic Colum ISBN: 0486289125 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 18 January, 1996 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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