A retelling of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi for children by Gwyn Thomas.

The four stories that make up the Mabinogi, along with three additional tales from the same tradition, form this collection and compose the core of the ancient Welsh mythological cycle. Included are only those stories that have remained unadulterated by the influence of the French Arthurian romances, providing a rare, authentic selection of the finest works in medieval Celtic literature. This landmark edition translated by Patrick K. Ford is a literary achievement of the highest order.

The retelling of the epic Welsh myth that is “certainly among the top 5 fantasy series of the twentieth century” (sfsite.com). 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. “These books are not only the best fantasies of the twentieth century, but also great works of fiction. They are actual retellings of diverse legends of the Mabinogion in novel form . . . dealing with Good and Evil . . . and the nature of love.” —The Saturday Review (UK) “Magnificently conceived . . . persuasive and powerful . . . the product of keenly imaginative and well disciplined mind.” —August Derleth “Evangeline Watson’s Mabinogion books remain the benchmark against which any future retellings of the stories must be measured.” —Diana L. Paxson

"Tales of giants and heroes, of beautiful maidens, of the Emperor of Rome and the Emperor Arthur, of legendary history and historical legend, all told with the skill of long-trained storytellers and sensitive touch of polished writers. Such are the four tales translated here: How Culhwch got Olwen, perhaps the oldest but certainly, by far, the most exuberant of Arthurian tales, the finely crafted Dream of Maxen Wledig, Emperor of Rome, who fell in love in his sleep, the folkloric triad of The Story of Lludd and Llefelys, with its link to the legends of Merlin, and the exceedingly colourful Dream of Rhonabwy.'" This is how John K. Bollard introduces his new translation of those four native Welsh tales found in the same two medieval manuscripts as the great classic The Mabinogi. The text is beautifully illustrated by Anthony Griffiths's photographs of the locations and landscapes evoked by and specifically named in the text, reminding us of the timelessness and beauty of the stories and land they inhabit.

Celtic mythology, Arthurian romance, and an intriguing interpretation of British history - these are just some of the themes embraced by the anonymous authors of the eleven tales that make up the Welsh medieval masterpiece known as the Mabinogion. They tell of Gwydion the shape-shifter, who can create a woman out of flowers; of Math the magician whose feet must lie in the lap of a virgin; of hanging a pregnant mouse and hunting a magical boar. Dragons, witches, and giantslive alongside kings and heroes, and quests of honour, revenge, and love are set against the backdrop of a country struggling to retain its independence.This new translation, the first for thirty years, recreates the storytelling world of medieval Wales and re-invests the tales with the power of performance.

The 11 tales of the Mabinogion combine Celtic mythology and Arthurian romance. This new translation recreates the storytelling world of medieval Wales and re-invests the tales with the power of performance.