Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends

From mermaids to dragons, 16 ancient Celtic fairy tales retold with their histories The Celtic cultures of the British Isles - Ireland, Scotland and Wales - have produced some of the richest traditional tales in Europe. Three words best sum up their themes and flavour: adventure, enchantment and romance.  In this book, Rosalind Kerven has revived the best Celtic fairy tales for a new generation. The stories are sourced from old folk tale collections from all three regions, alongside selected medieval Welsh and Irish texts.  • Visit mysterious Otherworlds inside the hills and below the sea - including a land where only the truth is ever spoken. • Meet iconic characters such as the first great Welsh poet, Taliesin, and the mighty Irish hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill. • Cheer on bold Scots lasses such as Mallie Whuppy, as she outwits a fearsome giant, and Kate Crackernuts, who rescues a prince from bewitchment. • Encounter witches, fairies, a bogle, talking animals and strange underwater beings. Each story is retold from the medieval texts and oral storytelling traditions of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with fascinating background notes and a long list of sources and further reading included. The background notes feature a list of source material, analyses of themes, and examples of similar legends from all over Europe.

Rosalind Kerven, 'connoisseur of myths and folk tales' - The Independent, is a narrative folklorist and the author of over 70 books published in 22 countries. She has specialist knowledge of world myths, legends and folk tales and is on a mission to bring these wonderful old stories back to life for modern readers. Her bestselling titles include English Fairy Tales and Legends, Viking Myths & Sagas, Faeries, Elves & Goblins and Arthurian Legends. She lives in the Northumberland National Park. Her website is: workingwithmythsandfairytales.blogspot.com