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Introductions
T. W. Rolleston, Celtic Myths and Legends
A thick, rather charming introduction to Irish and Welsh myth, written in the early
years of this century. Combines discussions of Celtic religious belief with short
retellings of the prominent legends. Many black and white illustrations. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
Charles Squire, Celtic Myth and Legend, Poetry and Romance
Essentially the same type of book as Rolleston's, and just as much fun to read or
browse through. Click
here for information about ordering this book.
R. J. Stewart, Celtic Gods and Goddesses
Discussion of popular types of Celtic deities, as they were known under various names
in different Celtic countries. Profusely illustrated, including a number of full-page
color plates. Click
here for information about ordering this book
Retellings
Marie Heaney, Over Nine Waves: A Book of Irish Legends
Immensely readable retellings of the major Irish stories of the Mythological cycle, the
Ulster Cycle, and the Finn Cycle. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
Peter Berresford Ellis, The Chronicles of the Celts
A massive new collection of traditional legends from Ireland, Wales, Brittany,
Cornwall, and the Isle of Man, in engaging, readable versions by a noted scholar of
Celticism. Click
here for information about ordering this book.
Lady Augusta Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men
Turn-of-the-century retellings of the Mythological cycle and the Finn cycle, by a key
figure of the Irish literary renaissance. Very flavorful versions, with a lilting and
poetical use of language. Influential and a bit challenging. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
Lady Augusta Gregory, Cuchulain of Muirthemne : The
Story of the Men of the Red Branch of Ulster
"I think this is the best book that has come out of Ireland in my time. Perhaps I
should say that it is the best book that has ever come out of Ireland; for the stories
which it tells are a chief part of Ireland's gift to the imagination of the world—and
it tells them perfectly for the first time." —W.B. Yeats. Another collection of
retellings in Lady Gregory's rich and leisurely style. Click here for
information about ordering this book. The same book is also available (at a somewhat
lower price) as part of A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend, and Folklore, a
gigantic omnibus that also includes one of Yeat's collections of Irish folklore. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
Translations
Tom P. Cross and Clark Harris Slover (editors), Ancient
Irish Tales
An amazing, 600-page collection, including Tales of the Tuatha De Danann,
The Ulster Cycle, The Cycle of Finn, Ossian, and their Companions, Tales
of the Traditional Kings, The Voyage of Bran Son of Feabal, and Place-Name
Stories. Apparently these are direct translations, rather than retellings, though
somewhat abridged in places (indicated by ellipses). Reprinted by Barnes and Noble for
their bargain shelves. (Note: The following link goes to the Barnes and
Noble website, unlike the rest of the links on this page, which all go to Amazon.com.) Click
here for information about ordering this book.
Jeffrey Gantz (translator), Early Irish Myths and Sagas
Translations of a number of well-known tales, many of them dealing with the hero
Cuchulain. Click
here for information about ordering this book.
Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones (translators), The Mabinogion
The key collection of Welsh mythology, in the best translation that I have seen. Tales
that are by turns tragic, comic, and mystifyingly suggestive. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
Reference Works
Michael Dixon-Kennedy, Celtic Myth & Legend: An A-Z of
People and Places
A handy reference volume in an attractive and relatively inexpensive edition. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
James MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
The mother of all Celtic mythology dictionaries, a huge achievement of scholarship. I
found more detail here than in any other reference source. Click here for
information about ordering this book.
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