Description
Book SynopsisThe magical world of Welsh mythology deserves to be better known outside its homeland, with its cast of heroes and tricksters, animals that can talk and change shape, and magicians and witches who can bring disaster or triumph to the people in their paths. Enchanted Wales is an invitation to voyage through the key stories of Welsh mythic literature, exploring not just their medieval texts but also their ancient roots, which can be glimpsed in sculptures, carvings and other artefacts from at least a thousand years earlier. These stories are more than epic entertainments: they allow us to explore our deepest questions about life and death, war and peace, and good and evil, secure in the knowledge that a skilful storyteller will guide us safely to the end of the tale. On this journey, you will encounter severed heads that speak, birds that can tell the future, cauldrons with magical properties, quests that are as intricate and exciting as the Labours of Hercules, and ghostly underworlds where strange and frightening things happen to the humans who visit them. Enter these pages, and prepare to discover a weird, wonderful and Narnia-like world of dreams – the world of enchanted Wales.
Table of ContentsPronunciation Guide Foretaste: Myths and Mythmakers Chapter 1: Opening the Door on the Welsh Myths Chapter 2: Gods and Heroes Chapter 3: Fabulous Beasts and Shape-Shifters Chapter 4: Otherworlds and Immortality Chapter 5: Capricious Cauldrons and Burnished Bowls Chapter 6: Goddesses, Witches and Shamed Women Chapter 7: Magic Numbers and Mythic Colours Chapter 8: Love, Marriage and Sacral Kingship Afterglow: Mythscapes and Deep Roots Further Reading Acknowledgements
