Description

Book Synopsis

Shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry

Here at the turn of the leaf a horseman is riding
through the space between one world and another . . .'

The Mabinogi is the Welsh national epic, a collection of prose tales of war and enchantment, adventure and romance, which have long fascinated readers all over the world. Matthew Francis's retelling of the first four stories (the Four Branches of the Mabinogi) is the first to situate it in poetry, and captures the magic and strangeness of this medieval Celtic world: a baby is kidnapped by a monstrous claw, a giant wades across the Irish Sea to do battle, a wizard makes a woman out of flowers, only to find she is less biddable than he expected. Permeating the whole sequence is a delight in the power of the imagination to transform human experience into works of tragedy, comedy and wonder.

The Mabinogi is an important contribution to the storytelling of the British Isles.

''I have waited a life for this book: our ancient British tales re-told, in English, by a poet, as they were in their original Welsh. This is more than translation. It picks up the harp and sings.'' Gillian Clarke

The Mabinogi

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    A Paperback / softback by Matthew Francis

    £11.69

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    RRP £12.99 – you save £1.30 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Mon 28 Sep 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Faber & Faber
      Published 31 May 2018
      ISBN-13 9780571333776
      978-0571333776
      ISBN-10 057133377X
      Also in:
      Poetry

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry

      Here at the turn of the leaf a horseman is riding
      through the space between one world and another . . .'

      The Mabinogi is the Welsh national epic, a collection of prose tales of war and enchantment, adventure and romance, which have long fascinated readers all over the world. Matthew Francis's retelling of the first four stories (the Four Branches of the Mabinogi) is the first to situate it in poetry, and captures the magic and strangeness of this medieval Celtic world: a baby is kidnapped by a monstrous claw, a giant wades across the Irish Sea to do battle, a wizard makes a woman out of flowers, only to find she is less biddable than he expected. Permeating the whole sequence is a delight in the power of the imagination to transform human experience into works of tragedy, comedy and wonder.

      The Mabinogi is an important contribution to the storytelling of the British Isles.

      ''I have waited a life for this book: our ancient British tales re-told, in English, by a poet, as they were in their original Welsh. This is more than translation. It picks up the harp and sings.'' Gillian Clarke

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