"Celtic Myths and Legends " by T.W. Rolleston is a
comprehensive collection of the most famous myths of the Celtic worlds. The
book was originally published in 1911 and since then, it has been released as a
part of the Barnes and Noble Essential Reading collection. The original book
was written during a time where original manuscripts were being translated in
English. Authors would take the tales and adapt them for a modern audience.
In the Barnes and Noble edition, the one that is being
reviewed, there is an introduction that lays the groundwork for the rest of the
book. It discusses the layout of the book and highlights what is covered in its
pages. This aspect allows readers to have a good sense of what is happening,
especially for someone who may be newer to studying Celtic mythology.
The book covers various tales of Celtic mythology, including
Wales. It covers the three major mythological cycles of Ireland and other
stories from the Celtic world. Rolleston provides enough detail and context for
the story that the readers can follow along pretty seamlessly.
Another important aspect of the book is its illustrations.
It is one thing to read the stories, but to see who and what is being talked
about is good. The book also has a genealogical graph of some of the deities, specifically
in the House of Don. It would be nice to have this for all of the deities since
many of them are connected to each other and it can be difficult to keep track
of them all.
This book is a great way to get into Celtic mythology. Though it was written over 100 years ago, the book still reads well for audiences today. It is a bit lengthy, but it is very detailed and Rolleston provides a lot of detail and information, even between the stories. This helps readers stay oriented as they move throughout the tales.
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