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Publication
Thames & Hudson (1961) First Edition: Revised edition reprinted 1978, 430 pages
Description
Reinterpretation of Celtic tradition in the light of advances made in the comparative study of religion, mythology and anthropology. Part One considers the distinguishing features of the various Cycle of tales and the personages who figure most prominently in them. Part Two reveals the cosmological framework within which the action of the tales takes place. Part Three consists of a discussion of the themes of certain classes of stories which tell of Conceptions and Births, Supernatural Adventures, Courtships and Marriages, Violent Deaths and Voyages to the Other World, and an attempt is made to understand their religious function and glimpse their transcendent meaning.
User reviews
LibraryThing member thesmellofbooks
Surprisingly, a real page-turner for most of its length. At times a given topic is delved into at more length than the average reader might want but then the pace picks up again and never is the effort wasted. Very important book for clarifying the sources and themes of Irish and Welsh mytholology.
LibraryThing member simondyda
In terms of its usefulness to the study of Irish and Welsh mythology, folklore and ancient culture, this book is comparable to The Golden Bough's usefulness to the study of mythology and magic in general.
Although archaeology has supplied us with much more information than was available in the
Although archaeology has supplied us with much more information than was available in the
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1960s, Rees and Rees did an impressive job of analysing the information they did have and making conclusions based upon the scholarship of the time. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1961
Physical description
430 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
0500270392 / 9780500270394
Other editions
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