The Mabinogion Tetralogy
by Betty Ballantine, Evangeline Walton
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Book Summary Information
Author: Betty Ballantine, Evangeline WaltonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-05-13
ISBN: 1585672416
Number of pages: 980
Publisher: Overlook Hardcover
Book Reviews of The Mabinogion Tetralogy
Book Review: Beautifully rendered Celtic myths
Summary: 5 Stars
The Mabinogion is an ancient collection of Welsh mythology. There have been quite a few modern translations, especially with the current Celtic revival. In my opinion, however, this four volume set by Evangaline Walton is by far the best. Many myths and fairy tales, while still enjoyable to read, are written in a less than scintillating style. Events and characters are duly described in a kind of methodical history book manner. Walton, on the other hand, brings the characters and stories to life in a truly literary fashion. Thus, these volumes can be enjoyed not only by folklorists and Celtophiles, but also by anyone who loves good fantasy novels --or good novels in general. The Welsh language has long been a source for many fantasy writers, including Tolkien. Though I can't properly pronounce most of the words and names in the Mabinogion, just reading them sends the imagination on an astral journey. Arawn, King of Annwn (the underworld); Rhiannon, Gwydion, Arianrhod...It would be too confusing to go into the details of the stories, but they are almost all concerned with magical battles (of wits as often as with swords) between various mortals and gods. Many of the tales of the Mabinogion are related, but they are not continuous. You could read any one of the four volumes by itself, which may be forced upon some readers if they rely on finding them in used bookstores. Fortunately, there are quite a few editions out there, including some newer ones, so you should be able to buy them as a set.
Summary of The Mabinogion Tetralogy
The author of the classic Mabinogian, the great compendium of medieval Welsh mythology, is unknown to us, but generations have thrilled to the magical tales set at a time when men and gods mingled, and the gods had more than met their match, tales of the wizard-prince Gwydion, of Prince Pwyll and Lord Death, and of the beautiful Rhiannon and the steadfast Branwen. In the masterful hands of Evangeline Walton the twelve "branches" of the ancient text were reworked into four compelling narratives: The Prince of Annwn, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon, and The Island of the Mighty, resulting in one of the great epic fantasy works of literature. In The Prince of Annwn, the seeds of future tragedy are planted. Young Prince Pwyll meets Arawn, the God of Death, and survives the encounter with a heavy charge: to take on Arawn's guise and kill for him the one man even Death could not fell.The Children of Llyr chronicles the great family of Bran the Blessed, and their epic struggle for the throne. In The Song of Rhiannon, the struggle continues with Manawyddan and his son Pryderi, the rightful heir to the throne, battling the force of an ancient curse. In The Island of the Mighty, the throne of the kingdom of Gwynedd is in peril when Gwydion, the headstrong heir, dares to provoke the legendary wrath of Lord Pryderi.
Evangeline Walton's Mabinogian Tetralogy is a powerful work of the imagination, to rank with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and T. H. White's The Once and Future King. The gods and goddesses, wizards and sorceresses, the mortal men and women of ancient days come brilliantly to life. Evangeline Walton's triumph is to have constructed a vital and living world on the foundations of myth.
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