Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think

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, as revealed by Mark Williams in his book "Celtic Mythology". Ten chapters recount the myths and explore the lasting influence of legendary figures such as King Arthur, Cú Chulainn, Finn, and Blodeuwedd, as well as the contentious use of mythic imagery in nationalist ideology. Williams' elegantly written retellings capture the beauty of the original myths while also delving deeper into their history of meanings, offering the reader an intelligent and engaging take on these powerful stories.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2021
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Myths that were deeply ingrained in the customs and beliefs of their original culture often find themselves retold and reinterpreted across the world, centuries or even millennia later. In his book, Mark Williams delves into the enduring influence of Celtic mythology, focusing on ten myths that have had the greatest cultural impact and are still relevant to our lives today.

The book explores the myths and examines the lasting influence of legendary figures such as King Arthur, the Celtic hero who paradoxically became the archetypal English national hero. Williams also explores the contentious use of mythic imagery in nationalist ideology and how characters and concepts from Celtic legends have been relevant to past and present discussions on national identity.

Through his elegantly written retellings, Williams captures the beauty of the original myths while delving deeper into their historical meanings. The book includes beautiful illustrations of the artworks that these myths have inspired over the centuries, presented in a color-plates section and in black-and-white within the text.

Mark Williams' mythological expertise and captivating writing style make this book an essential reading for anyone who appreciates the myths that have shaped our artistic and literary canons and continue to inspire us today.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500252369