Customer Reviews

Celtic Myths and Legends

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Maybe the title will get you a little mixed up. This book is noit a deep, scholar-like study of myths and legends, it is an easy to read compilation of classics from early northern europe. From Irish to welsh, to celtic myths, the stories presented here are retold by the author in a modern way, and I feel no omition has been made, from a non scholar point of view.
I'm sure there are deeper and more intricate books about Celtic Mythology, but this one is a must for starters or fans alike.
Included are many, many tales about kings, castles, quests and magic, and the author remains true to the spirit of the time, and you'll be surprised to read the original telling of the classic Cinderella.
In all, a very good read, (More than 600 pages, dozens of tales) for kids or adults alike, and a good introduction to Celtic Mythology.

I bought this book before i went on a trip to Europe , and i am so glad that i did. I had read a review some where that it was a great bed time story book as well for kids, and since i had my 6 year old with me on this little trip i decided it would be a great idea. Well it was a great book and all the stories were wonderful but not all stories are good for little kids.
The stories really drag you right in and make you feel like you are right there with these people. It is refreshing to have a books filled with stories that brings the magic back to life in this cold and empty life we all lead. A wonderful escape from the drab everyday stuff.
A good thing i thought is that the author seperates them by countries of origins and then gives you a little backround info on his sources and such before you move on to the stories of each section. I was upset that there was an end to the book , its one you wish would just keep going.
This is a wonderful edition to my collection and will be read more then once for sure.

I have always been interested in the stories from Greek & Roman mythology, and am just now becoming more interested in "recovering my roots" and learning more about the mythology from my own Celtic background. This book was a great way to begin learning those stories. The stories are descriptive and well-written, and come from various regions - Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall . .

I did wish that a pronunciation guide of some sort had been included. Since I am not yet very familiar with the Gaelic or Welsh languages, I wasn't sure how some of the names would be pronounced, which made it a bit difficult at times to read. But that is a minor quibble. I highly recommend this book - to beginners in the area of Celtic myhthology, and to anyone who likes to read good stories.

This book is an absolute gem. I suggest this book to anyone interested in the mythology of the Celts. I was particularly pleased to see myths from the Isle of Man and Cornwall included in the book. Many books on Celtic Mythology focus only on Ireland and Wales. This book is worth it's weight in gold.

This book contains stories from almost every Celtic country; Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany. The author writes these tales like short stories, which is easier to understand than the original versions I'm sure. If you want to hear a veriety of stories from all over the Celtic world, then buy this book.

First, this book is not suitable for deep mythological studies. Usually here you need access to source material in the original languages. At least Ellis points you to that material if you want to go that route.

This book is a compilation of retellings of Celtic myths, legends, and folktales. The book is broken up by region and covers Ireland, Man, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany. I found his style enjoyable and easy to read but the structure of the Celtic style of storytelling is entirely left out. Those interested in this should look at his sources (which he discusses if not citing specifically).

The book makes good and light bedtime reading (perhaps what I call a light read might be different than others, but this is pretty light). The stories are generally suitable for reading to kids. It is a nice collection, but has very little value from a scholarly perspective.

I am not a fan of Ellis but when I picked this book up I was interested in the Celtic Creation myth. As I started to read it I thought that the stories were alittle off. I think Ellis takes to many liberities, and he doesn't site his work. It reads as an epic work.

I wouldn't read this as scholarly work, maybe if someone was interested in Celtic mythology and understood the myths. This is not for someone just starting out.

I'm constantly reading Celtic mythology and lore, and this book stands out as one of the best. There is lots of good background information included, along with a great collection of stories collected throughout Celtic lands. Though many of the names may sound awkward and unfamiliar to our modern ears, the writing flows like a living oral tradition. Whether you are looking for entertaining stories, a deeper understanding of the Celts and their culture, or keys to understanding ancient magical traditions, you will find what you are looking for here.

I have found Celtic myths and legends interesting and thoroughly fascinating. The only problem is my ignorance of the Gaelic language makes it a little difficult to read the personal names and place names. nevertheless the stories are fascinating reading. It makes me think I would like to at least try to learn to speak Gaelic, though I have heard that it is one of the more difficult languages to learn. And of course I would also like to travel to Europe to see the places where celtic culture and literature were born. And I would like to become more familiar with the celtic peoples and their culture.

The celtic myths and legends by P.Berresford is a must to read.It is so interesting to read legend from all the celtics nations.I highly recommend it.