This is a very scholarly but eminently readable and accessible guide to the Celtic myths, especially of Ireland and Wales. There is also reference to the Celtic myths of England, Scotland and the rest of Europe, particularly as illustrated in the first-century BCE Gundestrup cauldron from Denmark, which, though from the Germanic world, illustrates many of the themes of the Celtic myths. There is a Prelude defining the Celtic World, a time frame and the evidence for the surviving myths. This is followed by nine chapters on different aspects of the myths. Each chapter has little text boxes, some with illustrations, highlighting a particular feature of a myth or symbolism. The illustrations are a mixture of photographs and line drawings and at first sight seem a little odd being all tinged with green, but on reflection this goes well with the other worldly and supernatural content of the book. There is a very useful and comprehensive Index, Bibliography and Sources of Quotations. There are two maps, one of Britain and the other of Ireland, showing places mentioned in the text and myths.
展开▼
