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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 398.2089916
EAN num: 9780786711079
ISBN number: 0786711078
Label: Running Press
Manufacturer: Running Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 544
Printing Date: December 23, 2002
Publishing house: Running Press
Sale Popularity Level: 51338
Studio: Running Press
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Product Description:
This is an enchantingly told collection of the stirring sagas of gods and goddesses, fabulous beasts, strange creatures, and such heroes as Cuchulain, Fingal, and King Arthur from the ancient Celtic world. Included are popular myths and legends from all six Celtic cultures of Western Europe—Irish, Scots, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Here for the modern reader are the rediscovered tales of cattle raids, tribal invasions, druids, duels, and doomed love that have been incorporated into, and sometimes distorted by, European mythology and even Christian figures. For example, there is the story of Lugh of the Long Hand, one of the greatest gods in the Celtic pantheon, who was later transformed into the faerie craftsman Lugh-Chromain, and finally demoted to the lowly Leprechaun. Celtic Myths and Legends also retells the story of the classic tragic love story of Tristan and Iseult (probably of Cornish origin—there was a real King Mark and a real Tristan in Cornwall) and the original tale of King Arthur, a Welsh leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons. In the hands of Peter Berresford Ellis, the myths sung by long-dead Celtic bards come alive to enchant the modern reader. 'The casual reader will be best entertained by ... the legends themselves ...colored with plenty of swordplay, ... quests, shape-shiftings, and druidic sorcery.'—Publishing houses Weekly
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I haven't got through all the stories yet. But from what I have read the stories are in a general chronological order, at least the very first few. None of these stories are too long and it seems like they are fairly original. The readings and action in them are much like other mythological readings: The Illiad, Odyssey, etc. (In this I mean there are godlike feats performed, and there are not attempts to explain them in realistic manner. Which keeps them original and good.) Having some understanding of the ancient Celtic world would help in reading this, but if you're like me it simply inspires one to search and study outside the book to understand more. I only gave it 3 because I haven't made it through more than half of it, and the "mythological" style reading isn't my favorite. But it is good so far.
Rated by buyers -
Peter Beresford Ellis, an historian type, here takes a look at the mythology of the Celtic people. This is a pretty involved topic, as there are a lot of different tribes and groups that make up the Celts, so a lot to cover.
He takes a crack at it, with some specific focus, in this introductory sort of book.
Rated by buyers -
I have always been interested in the stories from Greek & Roman mythology, and am just now becoming more interested in "recovering my roots" and learning more about the mythology from my own Celtic background. This book was a great way to begin learning those stories. The stories are descriptive and well-written, and come from various regions - Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall . .
I did wish that a pronunciation guide of some sort had been included. Since I am not yet very familiar with the Gaelic or Welsh languages, I wasn't sure how some of the names would be pronounced, which made it a bit difficult at times to read. But that is a minor quibble. I highly recommend this book - to beginners in the area of Celtic myhthology, and to anyone who likes to read good stories.
Rated by buyers 
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The celtic myths and legends by P.Berresford is a must to read.It is so interesting to read legend from all the celtics nations.I highly recommend it.
Rated by buyers -
I am not a fan of Ellis but when I picked this book up I was interested in the Celtic Creation myth. As I started to read it I thought that the stories were alittle off. I think Ellis takes to many liberities, and he doesn't site his work. It reads as an epic work.
I wouldn't read this as scholarly work, maybe if someone was interested in Celtic mythology and understood the myths. This is not for someone just starting out.
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