(8) CELTIC MYTHOLOGY:

PETER BERESFORD ELLIS – DICTIONARY OF CELTIC MYTHOLOGY (1992)

My preceding special mention was for books on the subject of Arthurian legend. While Arthurian legend remains my favorite strand of Celtic mythology (although one might argue about how “Celtic” Arthurian legend is), it is far from the only one. Hence this special mention is for books on those other strands or subjects within Celtic mythology.

The mythology of Gaul – which I particularly know from the gods invoked in Asterix comics by Toutatis! The Wicker Man. Druids. The mysterious horned god Cernunnos and other Gallic gods or goddesses. The Celtic mythology that survived most in literary form (mostly as recorded by Christian monks) – in Brittany or coastal France, in Britain and above all in Ireland with its various mythological cycles. The Tuatha de Danann or the gods of Ireland. The Ulster Cycle and Cu Chulainn. The Fenian Cycle and Fionn Mac Cumhaill (sometimes awesomely translated as Finn McCool). And the fairy folklore into which much of the mythology in Ireland, Britain and elsewhere was recycled.

Books on the subject of Celtic mythology already feature as entries in my Top 10 Mythology Books or special mentions – perhaps foremost among them Katherine Briggs and her Dictionary of Fairies, albeit more for that aforementioned fairy folklore. Similarly, The Twilight of the Godlings by Francis Young looks at fairy folklore – but mostly eschews it as surviving Celtic mythology. From recollection, the first volume of Bulfinch’s Mythology or the Age of Fable has some brief reference to Celtic mythology, while the framing device of Robert Graves’ The White Goddess is from Celtic mythology – the Celtic tree alphabet (as well as other aspects of Celtic mythology running through the book, arguably including the White Goddess herself). More generally, Barbara Walker’s Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets has numerous entries on subjects of Celtic mythology.

My keynote book for this special mention is the Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by British novelist Peter Beresford Ellis, because I just can’t resist a good dictionary as my favorite format for reference.

RATING:

A-TIER (TOP TIER)