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Celtic mythology has been a root of inspiration for writers, artists, and historians for centuries. The tales of King Arthur and his knights are possibly the astir celebrated from the wide postulation of stories that autumn nether the ‘Celtic mythology’ umbrella, but determination are galore different tales and characters that are conscionable arsenic fascinating, including legendary figures similar Cú Chulainn and figures similar selkies, giants, and the Fair Folk. These stories person sparked the imaginations of galore antithetic writers, some successful fabrication and nonfiction. There are a multitude of books looking astatine the tales from a humanities perspective, arsenic good arsenic novels and abbreviated stories that explore, retell, and play with these past tales.
‘Celtic mythology’ is specified a wide taxable that it’s hard to pin down. The stories that autumn into this class hail from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and galore different places successful and astir the British Isles and Northern Europe. Because of the chiseled past cultures and histories of these places, immoderate look astatine Celtic mythology has to admit that lone a tiny information tin beryllium covered successful a azygous book. Some historians person looked astatine the histories and taste contexts of celebrated stories, and the real-world events down legendary characters, portion fabrication authors person brought a modern space to old, much-loved stories. Here are immoderate of the champion books about, oregon featuring, Celtic mythology.
The Mab: Eleven Epic Stories from the Mabinogi by Matt Brown and Eloise Williams
This postulation of abbreviated stories is simply a delightful read, some for radical caller to Celtic legends and radical who’ve loved them for years. A retelling of aged Welsh people tales, brought up to day for modern readers and presented successful some English and Welsh, the stories are comic and fascinating — plus, for Good Omens fans, the instauration is written by Aziraphale himself, Michael Sheen.
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
While the sequel The Dark is Rising is perchance the best-known of Susan Cooper’s Arthurian-inspired stories, the communicative begins successful Over Sea, Under Stone. Three siblings, Simon, Jane, and Barney are connected vacation successful Cornwall with their parents and Merriman Lyon, a household friend, whose sanction you mightiness privation to accidental retired large a fewer times to get the significance. During their holiday, the children larn that acheronian forces dating backmost to the clip of King Arthur are threatening the world, and that lone they tin halt them.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Legendborn is simply a spectacular YA phantasy inspired by Celtic mythology. Bree, a young Black miss grieving the decease of her mother, attends “early college,” and soon finds herself drawn into a satellite of monsters, mages, and students who are the descendents of Arthurian knights. As Bree gets deeper into the satellite of the Legendborn, she finds retired secrets not lone astir this hidden world, but besides her ain family.
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Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
The sequel to Legendborn, Bloodmarked sees Bree and her friends trying to header with the revelations astatine the extremity of the erstwhile story, and besides with the racism of the Regents that tally the Legendborns’ concealed society. Nick, a young Scion whom Bree has feelings for, has been kidnapped, and Bree and the society’s Merlin indispensable find him earlier helium becomes the archetypal casualty of the war.
Celtic Gods and Heroes by Marie-Louise Sjoestedt
For readers funny successful the inheritance of Celtic mythology, Sjoestedt’s publication is simply a broad but easy-to-read publication that gives a fascinating overview of the Celtic gods, heroes, and different legendary figures. The publication digs into the concepts surrounding past beliefs, and provides an absorbing grounding successful a wide and sometimes daunting subject.
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle
Madeleine L’Engle is best-known for her celebrated publication A Wrinkle successful Time, but A Swiftly Tilting Planet, the 3rd successful the series, draws connected Welsh folklore, successful peculiar the communicative of Madoc. According to legend, Madoc was a Welsh prince who sailed to America successful the 12th century; the main characters conscionable Madoc portion they’re trying to avert atomic war.
Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices, edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington
This postulation of abbreviated stories by a plethora of well-known writers, including Nisi Shawl and Maria Dahvana Headley, instrumentality Arthurian fable and retell it with a divers cast. Placing Celtic myths successful galore antithetic settings, from 1980s New York to outer space, Sword Stone Table is an indispensable work for anyone who loves reinterpretations of much-loved legends.
The High Deeds of Finn MacCool by Rosemary Sutcliff
The High Deeds of Finn MacCool is simply a must-read for readers who emotion Irish folklore, peculiarly the stories focusing connected magic and the Fair Folk. Following the adventures of legendary leader Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool is the Anglicised version), it tells stories of battles, outwitting enemies, and the accidental tasting of the Salmon of Knowledge.
Many of these books gully specifically connected Irish mythology, and if you’re funny successful exploring Irish penning much deeply, effort our database of 15 Irish Authors You Need to Read. For books that look astatine a different, but arsenic affluent and fascinating country of mythology, effort 15 of the Best Indian Mythology Books for Children.
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