The Celts - that artistically rich, magnificent people whose legendary history culminated in the heroic reign of King Arthur - have long been a source of wonder for many. Their heritage is a treasure-trove: stories of epic heroism, of women who fought alongside their men, of giants and towering challenge, of ultimate sacrifice joyously given, of magnificent courage and high humour, of myth, magic, marvel - and through it all, the scarlet thread of tragic realism that governed a people beset by the constantly recurring threat of extinction. Because the Celts themselves had no written tradition, Joy Chant has chosen to tell their magnificent legends as they had been told in their own time - by bards around a campfire, or at the courts of their High Kings. And for time and place she has chosen the last great Celtic court - that of King Arthur - setting each tale within a framework that includes a note about the historical or cultural background. Each legend is illuminated by the paintings of George Sharp, who worked closely with the author and editor every step of the way. In addition to the full colour plates and the illustrations, David Larkin, art designer for the book, has selected Celtic decorative patterns, maps and reproductions of their marvelous bronze and gold artifacts to enhance the stories and notes. The result is high drama, an extraordinary overview of the legends of the Celts, placing them in relation to the state of mind of Arthur's people as they gathered themselves for the final defense of their way of life. Here, then, is a unique volume that combines rich visual imagery with sweeping epic, and captures the lives of the Celts through the great historic myths that bred them.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating and wonderfully entertaining,
By
This review is from: The High Kings (Mass Market Paperback)
What a lovely overwiew of Celtic culture. The author alternates between short, intriguing essays on Celtic society and traditions, and actual Celtic stories. The ballance is perfect. The reader is given just enough background to understand each story. By the end of the book, though, a detailed impression of these remarkable people has been woven. The shcolarship is never pretentious or dull, and the stories are told with a sensitivity that avoids any awkwardness in dealing with subjects like magic. The stories are products of the Celtic culture and are presented in that context. They appear, not as childish fairy tales, but as rich and vibrant reminders of a culture that thrived in Britain for about a thousand years.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
delightful,
By eric (arlington, va United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The High Kings (Mass Market Paperback)
Nice overwiew of the pre-Arthur time of Great Britain. I really enjoyed the little known stories, most of them being pretty thorough and inspiring, beyond simple fairy tales. I also read with a lot of pleasure the short sociological facts about Celtic society and traditions, which give the reader just enough insight. Am not totally convinced that these short essays are all that accurate, but this book is not a dry scholar paper so I can forgive some freedom...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pictoral oveview of Celtic history,
By Mark Murdoch (CHARLOTTE,N.C.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The High Kings (Hardcover)
This book is a visual delight to anyone curious about the Celts.It includes little known legends ,and lavish illustration. There are few books that provide such a vivid doorway,to the shrouded past.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
