Celtic Myths that Shape the Way We Think

by Mark Williams, CHumicheva Ol'ga (Translator)

Overview

The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think explores a fascinating question: how do myths that were deeply embedded in the customs and beliefs of their original culture find themselves retold and reinterpreted across the world, centuries or even millennia later? Focusing on the myths that have had the greatest cultural impact, Mark Williams reveals the lasting influence of Celtic mythology, from medieval literature to the modern fantasy genre. An elegantly written retelling, Williams captures the splendor of the original myths while also delving deeper into the history of their meanings, offering readers an intelligent and engaging take on these powerful stories. Beautiful illustrations of the artworks these myths have inspired over the centuries are presented in a color plates section and in black and white within the text. Ten chapters recount the myths and explore the lasting influence of legendary figures, including King Arthur, the Celtic figure who paradoxically became the archetypal English national hero; the Irish and Scottish hero Finn MacCool, who as "Fingal" caught the imagination of Napoleon Bonaparte, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Felix Mendelssohn; and the Welsh mythical figure Blodeuwedd, magically created from flowers of the oak, who inspired W. B. Yeats. Williams's mythological expertise and captivating writing style make this volume essential reading for anyone seeking a greater appreciation of the myths that have shaped our artistic and literary canons and continue to inspire today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9785001958161
Publisher:	Mann, Ivanov and Ferber
Publication date:	11/07/2022
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	16 Years
Language:	Russian

About the Author

Mark Williams is an associate professor of global medieval literature at the University of Oxford and the author of Ireland’s Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth. He writes with “extraordinary erudition and devastating wit”(New York Review of Books).

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Nature of Celtic Mythology 7

1 Shining Brow: Taliesin, Chief of Poets 15

2 The Celtic Arthur 47

3 Merlin: From Wildman to Wizard 81

4 Brutus: Britain's Forgotten Founder 107

5 The Tragic Story of Branwen 129

6 Cú Chulainn: The Hound of Ulster 157

7 Finn: The Roving Warrior Aristocrat 177

8 Blodeuwedd: The Woman Made from Flowers 203

9 The Celtic Love Triangle: Deirdriu of the Sorrows 221

10 Irish Fairies: The People of the Side 241

Conclusion: The Legacy of Celtic Myths 265

Pronunciation Guide 269

Further Reading 276

Illustration Credits 281

Acknowledgments 283

Index 284

Editorial Reviews

"This is simply the best concise work on its subject, for a student or general reader, yet published. The author is not only expert in the original texts but has a profound understanding of how they have been used ever since: and so why they matter."

Ronald Hutton