Celtic Myth and Legend (Newcastle Mythology Book) [Paperback]

Charles Squire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1975 | Series: Newcastle Mythology Book

Now back in print for the first time in many years is one of the most comprehensive studies of Celtic mythology legend and poetry ever written, presenting the entire enthralling panorama of the mythical and legendary traditions of the ancient Gaelic and British Celts.

Here, in clear, compact, readable form are stories of all the chief characters of Celtic myth: the Gaelic gods and the giants they battled; the "Champions of the Red Branch" of Ulster, heroes of the great "Irish Iliad;" Finn and the Fenians; and the gods and heroes of the ancient Britons, down through the great deeds of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Here is a book that covers the entire spectrum of this fascinating area of folklore, with numerous illustrations. It is not a book for scholars only, but for anyone who is interested in the roots of many of the world's finest plays, poems, short stories and novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 446 pages
• Publisher: Borgo Pr; First PB Edition edition (July 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878770305
• ISBN-13: 978-0878770304
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,599,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic, but not without a few problems, July 13, 2001

By 

Kelly (Fantasy Literature) (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Celtic Myth & Legend: From King Arthur and the Round Table to Gaelic Gods and the Giants They Battled... the Celebrated Comprehensive Treasu (Paperback)

This book is a classic, and is one of the best collections of Celtic myth on the market. Maybe _the_ best. Everyone who is a mythophile or a Celtophile should have a copy of this.

That said, it isn't perfect. Most of the flaws in it can be traced to the time in which it was written (1912). First, it stretches too far to compare everything to a Greek or Roman myth. To call the Dagda "Zeus" or Branwen "Aphrodite" is a little inaccurate, in my opinion, but I try to keep in mind the fact that he was presenting the Celtic myths to an audience obsessed with Greek myths. He even mentioned in his foreword that part of the reason for writing the book is because he was bored with poets' constant classical allusions, and wanted to give them a fresh well of legend on whicb to draw. So, in drawing parallels between Celtic and Greek myth, he was probably just trying to translate the Celtic myths into a format that his audience would understand.

The second, and more serious, gripe is Squire's anti-paganism. He buys into every rumor ever spread about Druidic human sacrifice. While at least one body has been found which was probably the victim of sacrifice, there is no evidence I've seen to indicate that the Celtic religion was the bloodbath it has sometimes been made out to be. Human sacrifice seems to have been present but very rare. Squire loves the Celts' stories, but tends to present the people themselves as bloodthirsty savages in dire need of Christianity to "civilize" them. Again, this may just be a product of Squire's times; he might have had to bash paganism just to get his book published in those days. Or the stories of widespread sacrifice may have been more commonly accepted as historical fact. I don't know. But if you can take his bias with a grain of salt, this is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Celtic myth.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Collection of Celtic Stories, December 23, 2001

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Myth & Legend: From King Arthur and the Round Table to Gaelic Gods and the Giants They Battled... the Celebrated Comprehensive Treasu (Paperback)

Many of our roots run deep into Celtic Myth and Legend. The Tuatha de Dannan, their cycle of the Year and many of our holiday names are derived from the Celtic.

But how much does the average pagan know about the stories from whence these things came? How many know the story of Lugh, or the men of Ulster, or even who the Gods of the Britain's were? We may know a fragment here or a passage there, but many of the really good stories go untold.

Mr. Charles Squire has collected some of these stories from the old texts and put them in one place for us to read, without us having to sort through a myriad of books to get just the right ones.

I found his selection to be very deliberate in choosing the stories that epitomize Celtic Mythology. The stories of the Tuatha de Dannan are the foundation of the Celtic Traditions, and from these sprout the Fairy Trads as well. The story of the Kings of Tara are also a good choice for it is part of Gaelic/Irish traditions.

I have always liked the stories of King Cormac and Finn mac Coul. Balor and his daughter, Gwen and Gwyddneu, Manawyddan and the early stories of King Arthur all evoke pictures of heroes and heroines.

If you do not have a collection of Celtic Myths and Legends, then pick this one up. The selection of stories is excellent and gives a good overall picture of the wonderful stories from the Celts. If you already have a book or two, as I do, then supplement your collection with this one. Each of the books I have contain stories that are similar, but there are always the different ones that can not be found elsewhere.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great as a text, October 5, 2003

By 

Andrew Asmundson (Port Coquitlam, BC, Cda) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Myth & Legend: From King Arthur and the Round Table to Gaelic Gods and the Giants They Battled... the Celebrated Comprehensive Treasu (Paperback)

If you're looking for an 'accounting' of Celtic Myths and Legends this is a great book with with a table of pronunciation, a great index for quick reference and an appendix of other recommended books. It is,however, very dry reading.

If you judge the book by the description on the back of the book:

"The romance of Celtic legend is unsurpassed, but many people have only a vague knowledge of the myths and legends of Britain's inhabitants. In this fascinating book, Charles Squire gives an astonishing account of the colourful Celtic characters who are part of the heritage of Great Britain."

The words fascinating, astonishing and colourful all make promises that the book can't keep.

I think that Myths and Legends would be much more accesible to the common man if told by a master storyteller that can grab and hold your attention, this book comes across as an academic study.