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Evangeline Walton

Mabinogion Tetralogy Paperback – December 31, 2003

by Evangeline Walton (Author), Betty Ballantine (Author)

97 ratings

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The Mabinogion is to Welsh mythology what the tales of Zeus, Hera, and Apollo are to Greek myth. these tales constitute a powerful work of the imagination, ranking with Tokien's Lord of the Rings novels and T.H. White's The Once and Future King. Evangeline Walton's compelling rendition of these classic, thrilling stories of magic, betrayal, lost love, and bitter retribution include the encounter between Prince Pwyll and Arawn, the God of Death, which Pwyll survives by agreeing to kill the one man that Death cannot fell, and the tale of bran the blessed and his family's epic struggle for the throne. The Mabinogion is internationally recognized as the world's finest arc of Celtic mythology; Walton's vivid retelling introduces an ancient world of gods and monsters, heroes, kings and quests, making accessible one of the greatest fantasy sagas of all time.

Print length

720 pages
Language

English
Publisher

The Overlook Press
Publication date

December 31, 2003
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.37 x 1.75 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1585675040
ISBN-13

978-1585675043
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Magnificently conceived . . . powerful." — August Derleth, publisher of H.P. Lovecraft

About the Author

Evangeline Walton (1907-1996) was the pen name of Evangeline Wilna Ensley, one of the acknowledged masters of fantasy literature. in addition to the Mabinogion novels, she is the author of Witch House, considered one of the classics of the genre. she has won two World fantasy awards.

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Product details

Publisher : The Overlook Press; Reprint edition (December 31, 2003)
Language : English
Paperback : 720 pages
ISBN-10 : 1585675040
ISBN-13 : 978-1585675043
Reading age : 18 years and up
Item Weight : 1.35 pounds
Dimensions : 5.37 x 1.75 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,391,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #25,120 in Epic Fantasy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
97 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		81%
4 star		11%
3 star		5%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Verity Brown

Excellent retelling of legends; horrible proofreading

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015

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Legends can be fascinating or confusing or dry as dust, depending on how they're told. Evangeline Walton makes the Welsh legends known collectively as "The Mabinogion" fascinating. Admittedly, Walton's own views on the world, especially the ancient world, show through as she elaborates on the legends to turn them into fully developed stories. And those views have unquestionably influenced modern fantasy writers; for example, I don't think Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon would be what it is without Walton's Mabinogion in the canon.

I do have a complaint about the edition I purchased in 2014 (which had a different cover than the one currently displayed): it had a plethora of typos. Examining the particular sort of typos that are most common, it looks as if someone digitally scanned an existing copy of the work and then didn't bother to proofread it very carefully. Shame on the editor/proofreader.

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

G. Fleming

Wonderful work with inexcusable typos

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2017

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A beautiful, wonderful retelling of the Welsh epic, marred by typos that might be excusable in a 99 cent edition, but totally unacceptable in a full-price edition. The errors interfered with but did not prevent my appreciation of this moving work. Godlike but all-too-human characters, reminiscent in some ways of the human-like gods of Norse mythology, rendered three-dimensional and sympathetic — heroes and villains alike!

Five stars plus for the work itself, but only two and a generous half for this Kindle edition. Still, you definitely owe yourself a read!!!

7 people found this helpful

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Edward Murphy

The Eldest Mythology

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2013

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The Mabinogion is already the remains of Celtic mythology passed through the filter of Irish Christian monks and the sensibilities of a few medieval nobles who were able to read. Evangeline Walton found the riches therein and made them accessible to a modern audience. These books are treasures for all time.
A unique sensibility and value system is revealed, as well, the deeper origins of the Arthurian story cycles, the ground of bardry, the beginnings of chivalry, romantic love, natural magic, profound loyalty, love of wit and wisdom, and the possibility for transformation inherent in all of life. Finally, it is the individual characters who live with powers and destinies, find their life companions, meet the gods as equals, and gain their trust and honor as the prize. The gods themselves learn to love these men and women. The reader is as richly rewarded.

7 people found this helpful

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Adrian Loder

Fantasy Classics

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2014

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Although, as noted in another review, there are some typographical errors here and there, I think that either that reviewer was exaggerating tremendously or else more recent editions of the book have reduced the number of errors. I'm about 600 pages into this now (have finished the first three novels and am halfway through the fourth) and have encountered maybe 12 such errors. Certainly we should expect better, but the errors are rarely so egregious as to prevent understanding of what the correct passage should have said, using context, and they usually mar only the last couple of words in a sentence. As far as the actual stories themselves go, they are wonderful. Walton of course if building on the original Four Branches of the Mabinogi but she has breathed so much new life into the stories and truly enlarged and made even more real the characters, motivations and circumstances. Her writing is excellent, and she is masterful at producing unique and evocative metaphors and similes that are reminiscent in some ways of the same skill found in the work of Lord Dunsany. Though where Dunsany's style is one of effortless poesy, Walton is less concise, though this is not a criticism, merely an observation.

Despite never having been married or having children, Walton displays an incise and acute understanding of the motivations driving everything from love, to the behavior and psychology of children, in a way that transcends the empty platitudes and cliches employed by more pedestrian writers. Additionally, every time it seems that some part of the story is about to become dull or boring, new life is breathed into it, whether in the form of additions and elaborations Walton has made to the original stories, or in the form of wonderful dialogue. Indeed, Walton's characterizations shine as fully-realized people and the dialogue between them feels natural and never forced.

I came upon Walton's works as I was doing research on early fantasy (pre-Tolkienization of the genre) and had never heard of her before, which I'm sure is true of many fantasy fans. But I'm glad I discovered her work, and i wholeheartedly agree that these novels are among the masterpieces of fantasy literature. Highly recommended.

8 people found this helpful

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Brenda H. Nelson

Disappointing

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021

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Not what I was hoping for. Modern style writing.⁸

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william dillon

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018

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very good

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Kristy Effinger

and the way she swept me up into this fantastic ancient Welsh story of magic and adventure

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015

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I was blown away by the exquisite writing ability of this author, and the way she swept me up into this fantastic ancient Welsh story of magic and adventure! I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good translation of the first four branches of the Mabinogion. She is a magnificent writer!

2 people found this helpful

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C. grady

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2018

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Great book kept me enchanted from beginning to end!

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Debbie Miller

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2016

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This is an excellent version of the Mabinogion. I read the Lady Charlotte Guest version after the Owl Service appeared on ITV as a series in the 1970s. I found that quite hard going but this version brings the stories very vividly alive whilst remaining very faithful to the original. Evangeline Walton obviously felt a very deep connection with this material and I appreciate that hugely as I have really enjoyed reading this in a way that was sadly missing when I tackled the Guest version. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.

4 people found this helpful

Gillian Bell

A Bridge Into an Earlier Thought-World

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2016

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Evangeline Walton's depth of study and reflection on the largely prehistoric Celtic world combines with her masterly story-telling in this remarkable re-telling of the Celtic myths and legends contained in the four branches of the Mabinogi. Her re-telling provides a bridge for a contemporary reader into an earlier thought-world, explicating that world to us in ways that make it come alive to-day.
It may be the best possible way in to a world shrouded in the mists of time.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Finally!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2014

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I read the fourth branch by Evangeline Walton when I was still at school. A teacher recommended it to me after I talked to him about 'The Owl Service'. I wanted to now more about the story that underpinned the plot of TV series and Miss Walton's style of writing made the ancient text more accessible to a young mind. Now, not so young, I'm delighted to rediscover this classic and indebted to Overlook Duckworth for publishing it!

4 people found this helpful

Marie Burns

Great read. Sorry when it ended!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2019

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Very readable fictional take on the earlier Welsh classic. It was very easy to get lost in another age, another world.

alistair clethero

magic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2014

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I first read this in my twenties and just reread it. I'd forgotten how good this is. An excellent read.

One person found this helpful

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