Assembly of the Severed Head: A Novel of the Mabinogi

A severed human head and a pile of decapitated bodies are found at a monastic outpost in 13th Century Wales. Cian Brydydd Mawr, the greatest bard of his age, is the only survivor and holds the four branches of an ancient Welsh myth cycle, The Mabinogion. He asks the monks to commit his oral tales to parchment before they are lost forever.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 01 June 2018
Publisher: Propolis

A small monastic outpost in 13th Century Wales is rocked to its core when a gruesome discovery is made on the nearby shoreline: a severed human head. It is the first of several to wash up along the surrounding coast, and not long after, the holy brothers stumble across the smouldering ruins of a bardic school with a pile of decapitated bodies inside. Only one survivor, barely alive, is found hiding nearby. He is Cian Brydydd Mawr, the greatest bard of his age, who holds in his head the four "branches" of an ancient, epic Welsh myth cycle: The Mabinogion. Physically weak but strong-willed, he asks the monks to put aside their rigid Christian doctrine and commit his oral tales to parchment - before the stories of spirits and shape-shifters, giants and time-travellers, curses and spells, are lost forever.

The monks are initially hesitant, but Cian's passion and knowledge of the myth cycle eventually convince them to take up his cause. They gather together the remaining fragments of the bardic scrolls and begin to transcribe Cian's stories onto parchment. As they work, they are drawn into the world of the Mabinogion, where they encounter a cast of unforgettable characters, including the mysterious King Arthur, the fierce warrior Geraint, and the beautiful Princess Gwenhwyfar.

The monks are amazed by the power of Cian's stories and the depth of their ancient wisdom. They begin to see the world in a new light, and their faith in God is strengthened by the tales of the Mabinogion. As they work to preserve Cian's legacy, they also come to understand the importance of storytelling and the power of myth to inspire and transform.

The Mabinogion is eventually completed, and it becomes a cornerstone of Welsh literature and culture. Cian Brydydd Mawr is celebrated as a hero, and his stories are passed down from generation to generation. The monks who helped to preserve his legacy are also remembered as heroes, for their courage and dedication to the cause of preserving the ancient wisdom of the Mabinogion.

In the years that follow, the Mabinogion becomes a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and musicians alike. It is translated into many languages, and its themes and characters are adapted into plays, movies, and television shows. The Mabinogion remains a powerful and enduring testament to the rich and complex history of Wales, and its impact on the world of literature and culture is immeasurable.

The discovery of the severed human head on the nearby shoreline in 13th Century Wales sets the stage for a series of events that will rock the small monastic outpost to its core. The holy brothers, who are responsible for the outpost, are shocked and horrified by the gruesome discovery, and they quickly realize that this is just the beginning. Not long after, they stumble upon the smouldering ruins of a bardic school, which is filled with the bodies of decapitated individuals.

As they investigate the ruins, the holy brothers discover that the bardic school was once a thriving center of learning and creativity, where bards would gather to share their stories and poems. However, it seems that something terrible has happened, and the bards have been brutally murdered. The only survivor of the attack is a barely alive bard named Cian Brydydd Mawr, who is hiding nearby.

Cian is a legendary figure in the world of bards, and he holds in his head the four "branches" of an ancient, epic Welsh myth cycle known as The Mabinogion. The Mabinogion is a collection of stories that are believed to have been passed down orally for centuries, and it contains some of the most powerful and influential tales in Welsh literature. Cian is determined to preserve the stories of the Mabinogion before they are lost forever, and he asks the holy brothers to put aside their rigid Christian doctrine and commit his oral tales to parchment.

The holy brothers are initially hesitant, but Cian's passion and knowledge of the myth cycle eventually convince them to take up his cause. They gather together the remaining fragments of the bardic scrolls and begin to transcribe Cian's stories onto parchment. As they work, they are drawn into the world of the Mabinogion, where they encounter a cast of unforgettable characters, including the mysterious King Arthur, the fierce warrior Geraint, and the beautiful Princess Gwenhwyfar.

The monks are amazed by the power of Cian's stories and the depth of their ancient wisdom. They begin to see the world in a new light, and their faith in God is strengthened by the tales of the Mabinogion. As they work to preserve Cian's legacy, they also come to understand the importance of storytelling and the power of myth to inspire and transform.

The Mabinogion is eventually completed, and it becomes a cornerstone of Welsh literature and culture. Cian Brydydd Mawr is celebrated as a hero, and his stories are passed down from generation to generation. The monks who helped to preserve his legacy are also remembered as heroes, for their courage and dedication to the cause of preserving the ancient wisdom of the Mabinogion.

In the years that follow, the Mabinogion becomes a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and musicians alike. It is translated into many languages, and its themes and characters are adapted into plays, movies, and television shows. The Mabinogion remains a powerful and enduring testament to the rich and complex history of Wales, and its impact on the world of literature and culture is immeasurable.

The discovery of the severed human head on the nearby shoreline in 13th Century Wales sets the stage for a series of events that will rock the small monastic outpost to its core. The holy brothers, who are responsible for the outpost, are shocked and horrified by the gruesome discovery, and they quickly realize that this is just the beginning. Not long after, they stumble upon the smouldering ruins of a bardic school, which is filled with the bodies of decapitated individuals.

As they investigate the ruins, the holy brothers discover that the bardic school was once a thriving center of learning and creativity, where bards would gather to share their stories and poems. However, it seems that something terrible has happened, and the bards have been brutally murdered. The only survivor of the attack is a barely alive bard named Cian Brydydd Mawr, who is hiding nearby.

Cian is a legendary figure in the world of bards, and he holds in his head the four "branches" of an ancient, epic Welsh myth cycle known as The Mabinogion. The Mabinogion is a collection of stories that are believed to have been passed down orally for centuries, and it contains some of the most powerful and influential tales in Welsh literature. Cian is determined to preserve the stories of the Mabinogion before they are lost forever, and he asks the holy brothers to put aside their rigid Christian doctrine and commit his oral tales to parchment.

The holy brothers are initially hesitant, but Cian's passion and knowledge of the myth cycle eventually convince them to take up his cause. They gather together the remaining fragments of the bardic scrolls and begin to transcribe Cian's stories onto parchment. As they work, they are drawn into the world of the Mabinogion, where they encounter a cast of unforgettable characters, including the mysterious King Arthur, the fierce warrior Geraint, and the beautiful Princess Gwenhwyfar.

The monks are amazed by the power of Cian's stories and the depth of their ancient wisdom. They begin to see the world in a new light, and their faith in God is strengthened by the tales of the Mabinogion. As they work to preserve Cian's legacy, they also come to understand the importance of storytelling and the power of myth to inspire and transform.

The Mabinogion is eventually completed, and it becomes a cornerstone of Welsh literature and culture. Cian Brydydd Mawr is celebrated as a hero, and his stories are passed down from generation to generation. The monks who helped to preserve his legacy are also remembered as heroes, for their courage and dedication to the cause of preserving the ancient wisdom of the Mabinogion.

In the years that follow, the Mabinogion becomes a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and musicians alike. It is translated into many languages, and its themes and characters are adapted into plays, movies, and television shows. The Mabinogion remains a powerful and enduring testament to the rich and complex history of Wales, and its impact on the world of literature and culture is immeasurable.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 139 x 191 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780992946050