Chestnut Soldier (The Magician Trilogy)

Book Description

Gwyn can feel danger coming in the wind. Somehow he knows the warnings have to do with the broken toy horse that holds the evil spirit of a prince who lived long ago. When Gwyn discovers that the prince's dark soul has escaped from the horse and is seeking revenge Gwyn, Emlyn, and Nia have to figure out how to save the mysterious soldier who claims to be Nia's distant cousin. With the help of the Snow Spider, can they recapture the prince's soul without hurting the Chestnut soldier?

Nimmo's fast-paced page turner fantasies appeal to boys and girls with its magical adventures.

Customer Reviews:

This book is best of the Magician Trilogy!.......2007-08-24

I rated this book a 4 because sometimes it exciting but i didn't get a big thrill like "oh my gosh that was so awesome!" I just kept reading and and usually the ending in the rest of the Magician Trilogy books, it just ends with a BAM!If you haven't read the rest of the Magician Trilogy read it!The Magician Trilogy are just like Jenny Nimmo's other series of books Charlie Bone!There big just a bit, but very exciting!If you would compare these books to Harry Potter books Harry Potter books would be better (no offense to Jenny Nimmo!).

The Magician Trilogy.......2007-07-13

This review is for all three books in Jenny Nimmo's Magician Trilogy (The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon, and The Chestnut Soldier).

Jenny Nimmo's writing style is very powerful, and her characters come to life as you read these books. The descriptions of locations (people's houses, the Welsh countryside, the town, the school) are so vivid that you can immediately picture yourself there. These books have a few scary parts, but the endings are very positive and satisfying.

These books are recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or Welsh mythology. Similar books include Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles.

Too much Welsh.......2007-06-15

I'm an adult, and I found this book difficult to understand. There was too much Welsh, the names are difficult to pronounce and the tales are too convoluted to follow. Stick with Charlie Bones.

Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger.......2007-06-10

Book three in the Magician Trilogy continues the saga of magician Gwyn, who faces further challenges to his magical powers when a wicked spirit escapes from a broken toy horse and unleashes havoc on his world. Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger: can he summon the forces to fight a final battle? This concludes a trilogy begun in THE SNOW SPIDER; prior familiarity with the other hard-hitting fantasy stories will enhance appreciation of this concluding adventure for advanced elementary to early middle school grades.

Delightful Read! .......2007-06-10

A Satisfying conclusion to a delightful series! This is the final book in the Magician Trilogy (The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon, & The Chestnut Soldier). When we first met Gwyn he'd just turned 9 and as this book concludes, he is turning 14...the books (themes and story lines) have evolved and matured just as the characters and as such, we find that The Chestnut Soldier has more mature subject matter than the previous two, however all three deal with subtle magic, human frailty, and no small amount of tragedy all thoroughly filtered through the lens of Welsh mythology/folklore. As with the previous books, the usual gang is all present, though Nia and Gwyn are most prominent here. As with the second book, the story is about Gwyn and his gift, but he really plays an almost peripheral role and here Nia and her mysterious soldier cousin Evan take center stage for most of the story.

In this final book, the final of the "five gifts" (the mutilated chestnut horse) his grandmother gave him at age 9 (the first book) finally comes into play. Here we find a soldier wounded badly coming "home" to the only family he has left in the area (the rest of his family having moved to Australia years before). At first things seem relatively normal with him, but as time goes on he becomes more and more angry, like anger is consuming him and his once supportive and worried cousins become frightened of him. Gwyn wants to help, but he's got issues he's dealing with too...he hasn't grown in nearly two years and is felling left behind in many ways. What once seemed a boon now feels like a curse to him. He wishes that he could be normal, that he hadn't inherited his ancestral "gift." Will Gwyn come to terms with all of this and be able to help Nia and Evan before the evil that escapes from the mangled chestnut horse takes over his troubled soul? With Gwyn struggling to find his right place and truly come to terms with who he is and Nia desperately trying to assert her identity and worth in the family when they are thrown into chaos as Evan becomes increasingly disturbed by the "injury" that befell him. Readers will feel the turmoil, angst, and edgy excitement as the story progresses and will certainly enjoy seeing how it all comes together in the end.

Overall I give The Chestnut Soldier four stars. It's got strong magical themes, Welsh mythology/folklore, an evil force trying to break into "our" world, an unwilling hero, a damsel in distress who manages to be a hero in her own way and as is the case with all three books, family is all important here. They are not shown as perfect things...each family here is full of flawed people all trying to work out who they are and striving to enjoy life for themselves and as a part of the larger family unit. What shines most of all here is that no matter how flawed they are, family is where the heart is and they are always there for one another in the end. I also like that the magic here isn't typical of the genre, it's not flashy or "in your face." In the Magician's Trilogy is it's more unknowable and mysterious, allowing the real focus to remain on the individual struggles, quests to find oneself, and most especially on familial relationships. Since it is common in this type of book for the family to be absent or so un-nurturing and unsupportive (as to be abusive in many cases), which serves to allow the child to enter in to the self-explorative adventure, I really enjoy the refreshing presence of a loving and supportive family by all the characters in the story...sure they've got issues, but at the heart of it all, the family IS an integral part of the storyline. We're sad to see the story come to a close...but it's a satisfying end!

Emlyn's Moon (Nimmo, Jenny. Magician Trilogy)

Average customer rating:

The Magician Trilogy
Good Books
cool fantasy book
It's in the moon, and stars!
Loved it

Emlyn's Moon (Nimmo, Jenny. Magician Trilogy)
Jenny Nimmo
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439846765

Book Description

Young magician Gywn and his friend Nia have been warned to stay away from Emlyn Llewelyn, the strange boy who claims his mother lives on the moon. And yet, a mysterious magic continues to draw them to him. But why?

It's up to Gwyn and Nia to solve the mystery, with the help of Arianwen, the Snow Spider. Readers will race along with Gwyn in this fantastic magical adventure to rescue Emlyn and his family before it's too late!

Customer Reviews:

The Magician Trilogy.......2007-07-13

Good Books.......2007-05-12

My grand daughter just loves this book and all of the trilogy. She is only 7, but can't wait to read more.

cool fantasy book.......2007-04-13

I think this book is a good book for fantasy lovers of all ages. This is the second book in the "magician trilogy" series so if you like it you should read the first or third book. This story is based in the welsh mountains in the present day. Gwen Griffiths lives a good life in the highest house on the top of the mountains in Ty-Bryn. But his cousin Emlyn is having problems. Emlyn's mom suddenly left without cause and he wants to learn why. But there are dark secrets in their past and when Gwen with the help of a family friend tries to help them, it will change their lives forever.

It's in the moon, and stars!.......2007-04-01

This is the 2nd book in a trilogy. Jenny Nimmo is a great writer. This book follows very nicely with the first, but the first isn't necessary to get what is going on. My 10 year old enjoys them too. Jenny Nimmo writes to kids and makes the reading easy and fun.

Loved it.......2007-03-10

If you like Charlie Bone and Harry Potter this is another you should read. Great for Kids.

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Welsh Cooking
Off the Mark
Around a peat fire
Charming Book for those of Celtic Lore and Cooking

Celtic Folklore Cooking
Joanne Asala
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1567180442

Amazon.com

Sabbats, festivals, and informal gatherings all have something in common--food. But choosing the right food for the occasion can be difficult. Celtic Folklore Cooking takes the guesswork out of planning a feast, with plenty of sumptuous ideas for an entire meal, from soup to dessert and even drinks to accompany your food. (Consider baked trout for Beltaine or Lammas cookies for Lughnasadh.) Joanne Asala gathers generations-old recipes from Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland, and England, associates them with appropriate festivals and times of the year, then sprinkles a dash of folklore between them. Perhaps you would like to learn the 400-year-old "Song of Harvest Home" while making Marigold Buns. Celtic Folklore Cooking is like having centuries of Celtic tradition in your kitchen, and it will help you find just the right flavor for your festivities. --Brian Patterson

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-09-13

This book has more than just traditional Celtic foods but has foods geared toward each Sabbat along with some history like the corndollies for example and some poems. What a great book!!

Welsh Cooking.......2007-09-10

This book offers information on Welsh traditions, folklore and magick it is an excellent resource. And the recipes are great.

Off the Mark.......2007-02-18

This book passes over some truly traditional recipies in exchange for things like steak sandwiches (although called something else.) Cites the Celtic Tree Calendar (a modern invention originating with Rob't Graves "The White Goddess.") Holidays listed reflect the Wiccan "8-fold" year (which has nothing to do with the Celts.) Many of the holiday descriptions and correspondences listed are right out of Douglas Monroe's "21 Lessons of Merlyn" (widely known as an unreliable work, more fiction than fact.) "Cakes and Ale" cited is another, modern, Wiccan (non-Celtic) invention. I do like the way the work is intersperced with stories, proverbs & poetry, but even those are typically more modern than truly Celtic. Still and all, some interesting recipies to try.

Around a peat fire.......2006-07-31

Celtic Folklore Cooking is a unique combination of Celtic Lore and peasant cookery. It contains not only a broad sample of everyday and festival foods but also a wealth of quotations and information about Celtic religion and Feast Days. The recipes also test out well, I have made Bara Brith - the Welsh festival bread - with excellent results. A few of the author's speculations on the antiquity of certain customs and food items are not entirely accurate, but this need not deter a casual reader or cook [only a Classicist like me]. On the whole, this would be a valuable addition to any folklore, festival or cookery library.

Charming Book for those of Celtic Lore and Cooking .......2006-05-07

I don't own this book yet but I have checked it out of the library over and over again and I think it's my fault that it's beginning to look so shabby. I'll have to buy my own copy.

I have to admit that I haven't tried many of the recipes but it's just a great book for celtic folklore. Along with the yummy looking recipes the book contains stories, poems, quotes, and the Celtic wheel of the Year that are all very charming.

The art and layout of this book feels really good despite having no photos. Sometimes when I read this book I feel like I'm going way back in time. Photos would just ruin it in my opinion.

I keep looking at the Mead recipe. I want to see what mead tastes like. It's made from water, honey, lemon juice, nutmeg, allspice, and brewer's yeast. The only thing is that you must let it ferment for 6 months! I'm still waiting on my carnivous plants to come out of the refigerator! (See one of my previous review for info).

It's hard to be patient but I think I'll go ahead and make a batch. It would be so ideal while eating my boxty pancakes and listening to the Chieftains.

This would be a wonderful book to have around for St. Patrick's day. One thing though about this book is that a few of the ingrediants may be difficult to find in the US.

Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales

Average customer rating:

Great All Round Book on the Celts
An in-depth study of Celtic myths, religion, and culture. Dense but readable, with too much comparativestudy. Highly recommended
Excellent primer
An excellent overview of Celtic mythology
A 'must-buy'

Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales
Alwyn Rees , and Brinley Rees
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0500270392

Customer Reviews:

Great All Round Book on the Celts.......2007-05-12

Not only do you get most of the important mythological cycles of the Celts, you get to have them put in context of Celtic society. As a starter book, for someone with lots of Celtic knowledge looking for a way to combine it, or for someone who wants to read just one, all round, great book on Celtic myth and life, it's perfect.

An in-depth study of Celtic myths, religion, and culture. Dense but readable, with too much comparativestudy. Highly recommended.......2006-08-15

Celtic Heritage is an in-depth study of the myths of Ireland and Whales, interpreting the myths, identifying key themes, and determining the impact of pre-Christiain Celtic society on the myths. The Rees brothers provide an overview of the branches of Irish and Welsh mythology, explore themes such as darkness and light, creation stories, hierarchy, religious/cultural centers, and the use of numbers as they appear in the myth and therefore as the influenced Celtic society, and then analyze the aspects of the different kind of stories, including births, wooings, adventures, and deaths, that make up the Irish and Welsh myths. Their analysis closely follows the original texts and shows a great deal of research into Celtic history and ancient culture. Ultimately, by working backward from the myths and using archaeological and cultural research as a guide, they are able to draw conclusions about the pre-Christian Celtic society itself: structure, beliefs, and practices. It is a scholarly text and can be dense and difficult to read it at times; there are also too many comparisons made to Indian religion, and the Reeses are to willing to use these comparative studies to imply or infer parts of Celtic religion and mythical interpretation. However, on the whole this is a scholarly, in-depth, eye opening book with useful information and brilliant, logical analysis. I highly recommend it. If you're having trouble finding a copy, college libraries seem to stock this book fairly consistently.

No doubt about it, Celtic Heritage is a dense scholarly text. The myths they draw on are complex and contradictory, our cultural knowledge is limited and requires explanation, and the conclusions that that the authors draw come from significant research and analysis. As a result, this can be a challenging, time-consuming read. However, don't let the book's complexities prevent you from reading it: the Rees brothers are fairly talented writers and bring a lot of clarity to these complex subjects, and the more you read of it the more familiar you will become with the myths and Celtic culture and the easier the book will be to understand. Furthermore, the information within this book is more than valuable enough to spend the time and energy to follow the analysis and unpack the text. The book is not as difficult to read as it may seem. Give it the time and thought that it deserves, and you'll learn a lot from it.

More than its denseness, the real problem with this book is the frequent comparisons between Celtic and Indian myth and culture. Comparative religious studies is a double-edged sword: comparing similar religions may provide new depth and fill in gaps of our knowledge about both religions, but we run the risk of assuming that one similarity always indicates another. In the study of polytheistic religions, the differences are often as important, if not more important, than the similarities. Indian religion, myths, practices, and gods may share a number of similarities to Celtic religion, and some of the Indian references provided by the Rees brothers puts Celtic aspects in context or allows us to make assumptions where there is a gap in our knowledge, but they rely too heavily on using the Indian religion for this purpose. It is brought up multiple times a chapter, and the authors never remind the audience about the dangers of assuming that the Celtic and Indian religions are identical.

Nonetheless, this is a superb text. Rather than stating their conclusions as dry fact, the Rees brothers walk the reader through their evidence and analysis; the conclusions themselves are logical and incredibly useful for interpreting Celtic myth and understanding Celtic culture. The authors fully explore concepts such as the self-contradictory, inverted, asocietal nature of the otherworld, the conception of directions and cultural centers which place the here and now as a cardinal but hidden direction, and the use of culturally and religiously significant numbers which are often important multiples (4x2, 3x4, etc) plus one. For the dedicated Celtic scholar, this is an invaluable, interesting, useful text. I highly recommend it to those interested in Celtic myth and religion--not just the stories, but also the meaning found within them. This is a book worth reading careful, buying, and coming back to again.

Excellent primer.......2006-05-28

In this book, Alywn and Brinley explore the myths of the ancient Celts in order to undertsand their culture, values and beliefs through the stories they told. They offer an explanaation of the different cycles ie Ulster, Fenian and the symbls used in the myths.

I found it very useful in understanding the diffrent cycles, the one thing about Celtic mythology that alluded me up until now. This books gives you a very simple explanaton and then folows up with a pretty good exploration and run down of each cycle.

I also really liked the section on different tyes of stories and their meaning for the Celtic people, such as the tales about death and the love stories. There's now a lot of stories I want to find some actual prose version of as opposd to scholarly reiterations so I can memorise them and explore them for myelf.

The main thing I disliked about this book was its tendency to slip into a kind of "Then they did this, then they did that," kind of reiteration of the stories. It was frustrating and tedious, especially for one who is used to more clever story telling. I also found the chapters explaining numbers and directions to be tedious at times.

Overall, I found this book interesting and while occasionally a little dry, very readable. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the basic concepts of Celtic mythology.

An excellent overview of Celtic mythology.......2005-12-10

TThis mythic study is considered by many as a must-read on the subject of Celtic Mythology. Meticulously detailing Irish and Welsh myths in terms of cycles and themes, this book examines the key Celtic epics and tales which shape Celtic culture even today. A classic for over 40 years, this book is well worth serious study for the student of Celtic traditions.

The introduction begins by introducing us to the storyteller, secular incarnations of the bards of old, the role stories played in society, and the esteem held by the ancient bards and poets. And, in a somewhat wordy paragraph that is nevertheless worth quoting, the authors state the reasons why this study is important: "A religious tradition consists of a ritual and an art as well as a mythology, and each of the components is intelligible in terms of the others. Symbols whether they be myths or ceremonies or objects, reveal their full significance only within a particular tradition; one must be part and parcel of that tradition to experience fully the power and illumination of the myth. Such participation in the old Celtic tradition is no longer possible. For these reasons we do not consider it enough to re-tell the tales as they stand, without comment. In pondering upon these fragments of tradition, it is not enough for modern man to disabuse his mind of the preconceptions of the historian, the prejudices of the scientist, and the asceticism of those who read the Bible as `literature'. He needs all the clues he can find. Although the full meaning can never be fathomed, we believe that a comparative study of the stories, combined with some acquaintance with the myths, rituals and doctrines of other lands and other ages, may help us to obtain glimpses of the tradition of which the stories, even in their original form, were but one expression."

In Part Two, the authors then take us through an introduction to the bulk of the stories and their composition into the Irish four cycles of Mythological, Ulster, Fenian and Historical as well as the four Welsh Mabinogi. The chapter "Darkness and Light" introduces us to themes of dichotomy and separation like day and night, and seasonal divisions. "Coming Into Existence" traces how, though without an original creation myth, tales of successive invasions tell of the creation of Ireland. "A Hierarchy of Provinces" analyzes the four (and five provinces) of Ireland into categories of certain elements of society and demonstrates how they are an example of Georges Dumezil's system of functions. And, the chapter "Involutions" cautions the reader, however, that divisions are not rigid, but fluid, with functions, etc., bleeding from one to another.

There then follows a chapter called "The Centre" which delineates the spiritual importance of the center provinces in some of the previously discussed geographical and metaphorical divisions in various cosmological and ritual ways. "Five Peaks" switches to the Welsh focus on the importance of hills and mounds in story and in ritual practice. "Numbers" then proceeds to catalog the ritual and spiritual importance of certain numbers (such as 7, 9, etc.) and closes Part Two of the book.

Part Three begins with "The Storyteller's Repertoire", a short introductory chapter which shows how the ancient bards and storytellers grouped and learned their material thematically rather than in "historical" or cycle order.

Choosing a few of these themes to analyze, we proceed to the chapter called "Births" which traces the extraordinary circumstances of a hero's conception and/or birth, for instance via a worm in water, supernatural father, etc. Additionally, the birth of the hero is almost inevitably a product of destiny or fate. The hero is often unwanted or an embarrassment, resulting in abandonment or attempted murder. From there we turn to "Youthful Exploits", childhood stories which are, in fact, initiatory journeys into manhood. These typical initiation motifs include a new name, acquisition of arms, and victory over a wild beast. These rites also usually include sexual initiation with a significant woman.

In "Wooings" heroes are tasked with seemingly impossible quests which they nevertheless complete in order to win a bride. But even these adventures have deeper metaphorical meaning. As the authors state, "Wooings are thus a variant of the quest for `the treasure hard to obtain' which man needs for his wholeness and fulfillment, a treasure which must be wrested from the grasp of an indefatigable foe." In contrast to Wooings, we then read of "Elopements", as the authors write, "The Elopements and Wooings of Celtic tradition seem to constitute...a pair of contraries. In the Wooings man is the suitor, while the role of the maiden is largely passive, but in the Elopements it is the woman who chooses the man and compels him to do her will." The woman is usually trapped in a loveless or arranged marriage to a man (usually older) not of her own choosing. "Just as the Wooings depict the mythological inversion of marriage from the male standpoint, so the Elopements may be described as the mythological inversion of marriage from the female standpoint."

Proceeding on to "Adventures", the hero encounters various members of the Otherworld and/or acquires certain magical objects. The authors say "Visits to a strange land and experiences among a strange race constitute a substantial part of Celtic mythology, and, as in modern fiction, a whole class of tales are known as `adventures.' But whereas the adventures of fiction are concerned with escapades among the natives of distant lands or planets in this world, the adventures of mythology are experienced among the mysterious denizens of the supernatural world."

In "Voyages": "The theme of the otherworld voyage is one of the most distinctive in Celtic tradition... Like other types of tales we have described, the immram has its own function. It is to teach the craft of dying and to pilot the departing spirit on a sea of perils and wonders." (One can't help but compare these with "The Odyssey". While Odysseus' voyage is not an immram on the surface, perhaps there are some of the same themes underneath?) The authors continue, "The metaphysical implication would appear to be that Whiteness, Blackness, Fire, Water, Joy, Sorrow, Femininity, Masculinity, Youth, Age, Life, Death and so on, exist as abstract principles over and above the objects or people in which they are manifested... In addition to the elements that constitute the corporeal world, human attitudes or behaviors also are depicted on the islands (of the Voyages)."

In the chapter "Deaths", even here the hero meets his fate in extraordinary circumstances via violation of multiple gessa, partaking a last sacred meal (this and the importance of twelve warriors and leader being themes incorporated in the Christ mythos) and strange or sexual encounters with women. The authors again, "The myths do not mitigate the impact of death with soothing words; they present it in its grimmest brutality. And yet...they elevated death to the plane of the tragic and heroic."

The epilogue finally closes out the book by saying, "In diverse ways myth and ritual loosen the grip of the temporal world upon the human spirit. Under the spell of the storyteller's art, the range of what is possible in this world is transcended: the world of magic becomes a present reality and the world of every-day is deprived of its uniqueness and universality. The storyteller...by convincingly actualizing the impossible, renders the actual world less real. When the spell is over, the hearer `comes back to earth' but the earth is now not quite so solid as it was before, the cadence of time is less oppressive and its laws have only relative validity." And yet I find that Celtic myth has a way of untangling imponderables while presenting new enigmas. It straddles both worlds, being itself "betwixt and between", leaving both worlds richer in mystery.

Overall, I found this book to be fantastic and anyone who considers themselves a part of the Celtic Hearth should read this. But, since this is a study of mythology, rather than a presentation of myths, I would caution the reader to be familiar with the stories comprising Celtic myth before starting this work. While sometimes the authors do paraphrase a myth before proceeding to analysis, oftentimes they do not, so it would be helpful to be familiar with the sometimes off hand references. I also disagree with authors detailing of "feats of memory" wherein they claim stories have been handed down for generations or even centuries without error. More recent studies of memory have shown that memory can be proven false even moments after an incident and Ronald Hutton, in "How Myths Are Made" in his book Witches, Druids, and King Arthur, shows how myths can be altered even within a generation. I also find fault with the often meandering Part Two, especially the chapters "The Centre" and "Numbers." Metaphorically tangled and challenging, the authors argument about their importance often feels stretched.

Otherwise, I think this is a very important book for the true Celtic Druid to read. It is not a stretch to say that these stories are important to know and understand in order that we may use our own mythos for power and growth in our own lives.

A 'must-buy'.......2002-07-05

One can easily imagine a more engaging text than the Rees' now-standard reference (and one that doesn't include the imaginatve expansion of Dumezil), but this volume is worth its full price for the index alone.

Average customer rating:

A good, readable translation of a mediocre collection
READ THIS BOOK FIRST!
Modern words for classics from medieval Wales
Worth Having - An Easy and Charming Read
No Cerridwen

The Mabinogion (Penguin Classics)
Anonymous
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140443223

Customer Reviews:

A good, readable translation of a mediocre collection.......2006-02-15

I'm a fan of tradtional Germanic epics such as Beowulf and hte Saga of Burnt Njal, as well as a fan of other medieval literature, including Wolfram von Eschenbach's "Parzifal," which tells the same story as some of the "branches" (stories) of the Mabinogion. So I had high expectations for the Mabinogion.

Unfortunately, the book failed to live up to them. Out of the eleven mostly unrelated stories included in this volume, only a few really held my interest. In a work like this you expect an episodic, somewhat repetitive story, but the Mabinogion takes this to the extreme. A few of the stories are practically parodies of Arthurian romance; for example, "How Culhwch Won Olwen." In this story, the hero meets the heroine and is told that he must complete thirty-nine tasks to win her. The rest of the story consists of an account of the completion of these tasks, most of which don't rate more than about a sentence; plus a five-page list of all the knights of Arthur's court who helped him. Expanded to full length, this might be interesting, but as it stands it's about as exciting as reading Cliff's Notes. In addition, the Mabinogion's humor often falls flat, especially when compared with the Icelandic epics.

The Penguin Classics edition seems to be well-translated and well-annotated, but the book itself didn't hold my interest. Unless you're an Arthurian completist or a Welsh history buff, I'd give this one a miss.

READ THIS BOOK FIRST!.......2005-12-15

Before you step into anything by Lawhead, Zimmer-Bradley, or yet another retelling of Arthurian legends, THIS is the book you should read first. This is also the edition that is used as a coursebook in Celtic Civilisation lectures at the University of Glasgow, so it is probably one of the better translations out there.

Aside from the fact that the best place to learn about Celtic mythology and folklore is from the myths themselves, (Why bother looking around for someone to 'speak for the Celts' when they are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves -- indeed, have centuries of tradition in doing so?) the Four Branches of the Mabinogi are entertaining in and of themselves. Rhiannon isn't a glitter-infested fairy queen nanny of New Age construction -- she's a snarky, quick-witted lady who oftentimes finds herself coming to the rescue of her dull-witted husband, Pwyll. Arthur invokes the anger of his closest knight, Cai, (Kay) by making up a parody song on the spot -- and Cai storms off in a huff.

Although removed from present culture by centuries, the tales within the Mabinogi touch on a chord of familiar human experiences through lively tales and engaging characters who are not at all so different from ourselves.

Modern words for classics from medieval Wales.......2005-08-30

Gantz has created a modern, readable translation of these eleven Welsh classics. Although they come from the same oral tradition and were captured on paper around the same time (1200s to 1400s), they are rarely related to each other. Each story has its unique character, like page after page of people named in 'How Culwch won Owen'. 'The Dream of Rohanbwy' likewise seems to be a listing of colored arms and costumes so detailed that the writer say, "no one ... knows The Dream without a book because of the many colors."

Others of these tales are much more interesting for their relatioships to other parts of the mythos of the British isles. 'Peredur son of Evrawg' is variant of the Parsival story, with close parallels in many of its particulars. The Mabingion also retells some of the earliest known tales in the Arthurian canon. 'Gerient and Enid,' for example, is founded in the Arthur mythology. It's founded on the notions of knightly honor and chivalry, but with a primitive and harsh interpretation of the ethos.

There are other glimpses of early Celtic times, as well. One that struck me, in two different passages, was a telling of some great feast, where the doors were closed to all comers once the feasting began. All comers, that is, except a "king of a lawful dominion or a craftsman who brings his craft." Later in that story (Culwch), the bouncer isn't told to let the kings in, only the craftsmen. This is a vivid display of their high regard for skilled work, something that sounds strange to a modern ear. I think less of the modern ear for thinking so little of such skills.

Not all translations of the Mabinogion are created equal. Reading another translation, I foundered on obsolete, Elizabethan language injected to make the stories seem archaic. This one uses contemporary language, as bards in a living oral tradition would have done, to create a smooth and readable collection.

//wiredweird

Worth Having - An Easy and Charming Read.......2005-02-27

Eleven Welsh tales written in the 13th century based on older oral versions which probably date back to pagan times. The quality and coherence of the tales varies. Some of them are well-told with good narrative flow and consisent, well-defined characters. Others are a confused jumble of seemingly random incidents which end abruptly with major conflicts still unresolved. Jeffrey Gatz's translation is plain and readable; nowhere near as murky or as dry as some translated "classics" I have struggled through. I noticed a slight change in tone from the gentle Celtic lilt in the first half of the book, to frequent use of Beowulf-like compounds ("ferocious-bold" "venomous-painful" "fierce-powerful" etc) in the Arthurian tales of the second half. Could it be that in the Arthurian romances, an intentionally archaic style was used by the writer? Dr. Gantz doesn't specifically mention this, though he does say that some of the vocabulary in the Mabinogion was obsolete even at the time it was written. An air of mystery and magic pervades all the stories.
The tales of the Mabinogion were paraphrased by T.W. Rolleston in his _Celtic Myths and Legends_, 1917 (still available from Dover,) so I was already somewhat familiar with them when I read them. The full versions are much better, and being already familiar with the plot did not diminish my enjoyment at all. The Mabinogion has many parallels with Irish myth and legend. It also contains some of the earliest versions of tales from the King Arthur mythos (even a primitive, very understated version of the Grail legend!) "The Dream of Rhonabwy" (placed by Gantz in the middle of the book to serve as a transition from the mythological tales to the Arthurian tales) contains one of the best contemporary descriptions of Medeival squalor I have ever read. You can almost smell the filth and feel the discomfort of Rhonabwy and his companions as you read the opening passages of this tale.
Gantz's introductory materials are brief and to the point. He provides a general introduction at the beginning which gives the historical background of the Mabinogion and puts it into its literary perspective alongside the French romances. There are a few paragraphs before each tale which provide background information pertinent to that particular story.

No Cerridwen.......2004-10-03

This translation leaves out the Story of Gwion Bach (Taliesin) which may be historically acurate--but no fun indeed. Otherwise exellent.

The Celtic Breeze: Stories of the Otherworld from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales

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The Celtic Breeze: Stories of the Otherworld from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales
Heather McNeil
Manufacturer: Libraries Unlimited
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Binding: Hardcover

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Gadi Mirrabooka: Australian Aboriginal Tales from the Dreaming

ASIN: 1563087782

Book Description

Delve into a world of kelpies, mermaids, selkies, ghosts, warlords, and fairies. This collection gives you Celtic tales, previously unrecorded or only found in obscure compilations. Mostly collected by the author on her ancestral home of the Isle of Barra in the Hebrides, these lesser-known tales from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are supported by a brief history of the Celts, a glossary of the Gaelic integrated in the stories, an appendix of superstitions about fairy protection, and bibliographies that reflect the author's extensive research. Seventeen ballads collected almost one hundred years ago and excerpts from the author's journal of travels in Scotland make this book a unique and valuable resource for anyone who tells stories.

King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land: The Divine Feminine in the Mabinogion

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Indespensible Pair

King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land: The Divine Feminine in the Mabinogion
Caitlín Matthews
Manufacturer: Inner Traditions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0892819219
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Book Description

Reveals how the ancient Celtic text of the Mabinogion was the mythical predecessor to the legends of King Arthur.

â€¢ Revised edition of Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain (UK) that includes the author's latest research and insights.

â€¢ A comprehensive reader's companion with synopsis of stories and full commentary.

â€¢ Written by renowned scholar CaitlÃn Matthews, author of The Celtic Wisdom Tarot (15,000 sold).

The ancient Celtic stories of the Mabinogion have received universal recognition from scholars as both sources of the Arthurian legend and keys to insights into the ancient magic of the Celtic Otherworld. Now renowned Celtic scholar CaitlÃn Matthews, drawing on a full range of medieval texts and ancient Welsh writings, provides a fully revised and updated reader's guide to these rich and far-reaching tales.Â

In King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land, Matthews sheds particular light on Sovereignty, the Goddess of the sacred land of Britain, and the spiritual principle of the Divine Feminine. Clearly revealed are the many alternate forms taken by the Goddess of the Land--including her incarnation as Morgan of Avalon, who plays a dominant role in the Arthurian cycle. Also established are links between the legendary characters of the Mabinogion and their counterparts in other living myths of the Western world. Through the marriage of the Celtic kings to the Goddess of the Land, the sacred contract between political rulership and responsibility for the land's well-being is dramatically revealed. In King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land, Matthews once again articulates definitively the continuing relevance of ancient Celtic thought and belief as illustrated in the powerful myths and legends of ancient Britain.

Customer Reviews:

Indespensible Pair.......2006-06-01

Both this title and Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain: Hero Myths in the Mabinogion are essential to a student's understanding of these wonderful Welsh classics; however the need to re-release them with different titles escapes me....

The Mabinogion (Everyman Paperback Classics)

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Great
This is my favorite.
tedious and difficult to read.....
Ian Myles Slater on: Beautiful and Puzzling Tales
Myth becomes legend and legend becomes romance

The Mabinogion (Everyman Paperback Classics)
Mair Jones
Manufacturer: J.M. Dent & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0460872974

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2007-08-31

The actual part of the book that is the Mabinogion is a wonderful translation/adaptation/etc. The only thing that might be hard to get by is the forward and introduction, both of which are very acedemic, so if you're looking for a quick and easy read I wouldn't suggest this book, but if you're looking to realy understand where it came from and the history behind it, its great!

This is my favorite........2007-01-02

This is not the most accessible translation of the Mabinogion, but it is the most literal, and most fully conveys the rhythmn and feel of the original language. Out of all the versions available (and I have over half a dozen - closer to a dozen if you count the retellings and those in the orginal Welsh) this is my favorite. However, for a first time reader not familiar with the Welsh language, I think I would recommend Patrick Ford's "The Mabinogi" as being an easier read.

tedious and difficult to read............2006-02-22

This edition reads like it was translated word-for-word from the original middle welsh. It is written in a stilted, "translationese", very difficult and tedious to read. I'm halfway through it ( just finishing up Culwuch and Olwen ) and I think I'll stop....simply can't stand it anymore. There has to be better translations out there than this!!!

Ian Myles Slater on: Beautiful and Puzzling Tales.......2005-01-21

The publishing history of this edition, and its relationship to other translations of what is commonly known as "The Mabinogion," is a little complicated, and I think that is worth clearing up, although it may be a little tedious. However, my explanation of it should serve as "buyer's guide" if you are hesitating over exactly what to order.

In 1948 the Golden Cockerel Press issued an "edition-de-luxe" of translations from Medieval Welsh prose tales, made by Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones, under the title of "The Mabinogion." This was the direct ancestor of the present Everyman volume. The translators, besides sharing a common Welsh name, were both distinguished academics: Thomas Jones was Professor of Welsh at Aberystwyth, and Gwyn Jones was Professor of English at Aberystwyth and Cardiff.

This title of the book was, as the translators pointed out, an erroneous form, a mere scribal error turned into a comprehensive title for stories with quite diverse histories. It was established in the public mind in the nineteenth century by Lady Charlotte Guest, who issued the first complete English translation of the stories, with Welsh texts, published in seven volumes, 1838-1845. The English text and notes of the shorter 1848 edition of her version had been included in the "Everyman's Library" series since 1906. This fat (432 pages) little volume furthered its position with the literary public interested in Welsh matters, general Celtic literature, or Arthurian stories, despite enormous advances in Welsh studies in the intervening century before the Jones and Jones translation. (I have separately reviewed some of its recent editions, with more on the translator's remarkable life.)

A more accurate translation by T.P. Ellis and J. Lloyd, "The Mabinogion: A New Translation," had been published by Oxford University Press in 1929, and seems to have made little impact. (One wonders: did the Depression play a role?) It had some useful annotations, and I have often wondered why it has never been reprinted, while Guest has gone into a variety of fuller or shorter versions (including the stories-only Dover Thrift edition, and one, apparently with the notes, illustrated by Alan Lee) of her bowdlerized and otherwise truncated rendering. Ellis and Lloyd continued to use Guest's title, and omitted one story, "Taliesin," a practice which Jones and Jones followed with no clear explanation. (I will offer one below.)

Otherwise, the narrative contents of all three of these translations are the same. They contain stories in four categories. (Note that preferred spellings of proper names vary, and I have not tried to be fully consistent.)

First, "The Four Branches of the Mabinogi," from which the collective title was derived, consisting of "Pwyll, Prince of Dyved," Branwen Daughter of Llyr," "Manawydan Son of Llyr," and "Math Son of Mathonwy." These begin with a story about the conception and birth of Pwyll's son, Pryderi, whose death is one of the early events in the "Fourth Branch," and concern a variety of heroes, and what are clearly rationalized gods. (Evangeline Walton turned each of the "Four Branches" into a novel; and other writers have done versions of one or another of them.)

Second, there are two "native tales," "The Dream of Maxen Wledig" and "The Story of Lludd and Llevelys," about Roman ("historical") and pre-Roman ("mythical") Britain as imagined by the medieval Welsh. The 'Lludd" text, as we have it, actually belongs to the "Chronicle" tradition launched by Geoffrey of Monmouth's supposed translation from an "ancient British book." (Which, if any part of it ever had any existence, was NOT the "Mabinogion.") "Maxen" seems to reflect an even more garbled version of a story known to Geoffrey, compounding several real people.

Third are two Arthurian stories in native Welsh mode. "Culhwch and Olwen," is an elaborate quest, dragging in, at least by name, most of the gods and heroes traceable in Welsh material, and some of their Irish cousins into the bargain, mostly as part of Arthur's court. "The Dream of Rhonabwy" is a visionary encounter with Arthur and his warriors (and anything else I could say would probably be controversial); a fascinating text, which almost boasts of its authentically dreamlike obscurity.

Fourth are three "Romances," "Owain" (otherwise known as "The Lady of the Fountain"), "Peredur son of Evrawc," and "Gereint the Son of Erbin," the first and last of which are clearly versions of Chretien de Troyes' Old French Arthurian Romances, "Yvain" and "Erec," while the second is related in a more complex manner to his unfinished and problematic "Perceval le Gallois." These seem to illustrate Celtic materials going out into wider European society, and then flowing back into Wales to enrich (and confuse) the native heroic and mythic tradition with ideas of chivalry.

The story missing from these two later translations, as well as a third version from 1976, was published by Charlotte Guest as "The Tale of Taliesin," although it is also found in some manuscripts as two separate tales. Although attested rather late, there are Irish parallels, and its tradition would seem to belong very much with the "native tales" like the "Four Branches of the Mabinogi" and "Culhwch." There seems to have been a real Taliesin, an early medieval poet, to whom much later poems were also attributed, but this story-complex has more to do with the myths about the nature of poetry. (It is also behind Thomas Love Peacock's comic novel, "The Misfortunes of Elphin," and quite a bit of modern fantasy literature.)

Fortunately for those of us who do not read medieval Welsh, Everyman's Library retired the lovely, but unreliable (and textually dubious) Guest translation, replacing it with Jones and Jones in 1949 (J.M. Dent and Sons, Ltd., London, and E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., New York). This was an inexpensive and readily-available edition, which included a set of textual notes. Confusingly, it kept the old series number (97), which can lead to problems when ordering used copies. It was frequently reprinted, sometimes with emendations including a reissue in 1974 with Supplementary Textual Notes. This preserved the old pagination, which was frequently cited in discussions of the stories, but made it necessary to check the Supplement to be sure of the translators' most recent conclusions. It appeared with more revisions, additions, and a welcome Index of Proper Names in 1989. There were paperback editions (No. 1097) with at least two different covers, one lovely, one, to my mind, merely garish.

Finally, in 1993, with Dent now part of the Orion Publishing Group, and Charles E. Tuttle as the American publisher, it was reset for the Everyman Paperback Classics, with the changes to the translation smoothly incorporated, and the Textual and Supplementary Textual Notes in what seem to be their final forms. Gwyn Jones was still alive to work on these revisions, now with the collaboration of his wife, Mair Jones. The new pagination makes it harder to locate older references to passages; I have held on to my copies of older printings for this reason. Why go flipping through pages when I can look up the reference directly, and then find the corresponding section in a few seconds?

There is also a hardcover edition with a Preface by John Updike, published under the Borzoi imprint in 2001 (not seen). However, as the 1993 / 2001 text is the translator's final, preferred, revision, it is important to know that there is a difference -- especially if you are ordering it used. The 1974 text still had, besides the 44-page introduction, 283 pages. The 1993 edition, and its reprintings, are in a slightly larger format, and have a 32-page introduction, and 240 pages of main text.

Jones-and-Jones is in almost every way superior to the Guest translation, and is readily available; the lack of the "Taliesin" material, and of comparable, but modern, annotations, are its only failings. It has two modern competitors. One is the Penguin Classics "Mabinogion," translated by Jeffrey Gantz. The English of this translation is more modern, and some prefer it. I find Gantz's decisions on spelling some of the Welsh names rather strange; and some students of Welsh think that some of them are hard to justify. Of more importance to most readers will be his decision to give many of the names, particularly in the long lists of champions, their wives, dogs, horses, and swords, in "Culhwch," in the original Welsh. That sounds normal enough, but they are often intended to be understood as nicknames, whose meaning should be transparent, not meaningless, and some are even funny ("Big-bone, daughter of Strength"). Gantz consistently translates them in footnotes, which is highly distracting. In many cases, putting the Welsh text there for those who need it would have kept the main text easier reading, and looking less like the "begats" in "Genesis" and "Numbers.".

The other alternative -- which I would suggest getting as a supplement to either, if not, indeed, as a first choice -- is Patrick K. Ford's "The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales." It drops the French-influence Romances, the enigmatic "Rhonabwy," and "The Dream of Maxen," but gives a clear and vigorous rendering of the Welsh material, with an excellent introduction and notes. Ford not only did away with the persistent "Mabinogion" mistake in the title, he also included "Taliesin," based on the text he had re-edited from manuscripts, and restored to its two-story version, as "The Tale of Gwion Bach" and "The Tale of Taliesin."

It seems that Ellis and Lloyd and Jones and Jones, knew that Charlotte Guest's text for the story (with poems) had passed through the hands of the notorious Iolo Morganwg. He was a pioneering scholar who didn't hesitate to *invent* the evidence to support his theories, and they had preferred not to plunge into that thicket. Nor had anyone else. Unfortunately, the Guest version had been worked over by Robert Graves for his brilliant, and absurd, "The White Goddess," and a reliable version for non-Celticists was more than overdue. Ford's text edition was of value for another reason; there are close parallels between the stories of Gwion and the boyhood of the Irish hero Fionn (Finn McCool), investigation of which certainly needed a proper edition of the Welsh version to work from.

As an added bonus, Ford included as an appendix a translation of the notoriously difficult "Cad Goddeu," or "Battle of the Trees," also found in Guest's notes. It too had been given a splendid, and absurd, interpretation in terms of the Irish Ogham script by Robert Graves, who demonstrated his profound lack of knowledge of Welsh, and equally deep understanding of Irish. (He actually "improved" and re-ordered the translation he was using, without reference to the original....) Ford doesn't claim to understand its "real meaning," if any, only what it actually says, and it is very nice to have it. (By the way, "The Battle of the Trees" seems likely to have been in Tolkien's mind, along with Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane, when writing of the Siege of Orthanc.)

There is a growing secondary literature about the "Mabinogion" stories, ranging from the excellent but technical, to the trivial, to the seriously erroneous (Graves is not alone!). Gwyn Jones himself contributed an excellent, and readable, analysis of "Culhwch and Olwen," in his book "Kings, Beasts, and Heroes" (1972), where it joins "Beowulf" and "Hrolf Kraki's Saga" (Jones having also translated the latter).

Myth becomes legend and legend becomes romance.......2003-09-22

The contents are a translation of most of the longest surviving prose narratives in medieval Welsh. Its title is an erroneus one, a word invented by Lady Charlotte Guest who first translated all these tales into English but it has stuck to the collection.

Only the story of Taliesin is for some reason omitted from Gynn Jones and Thomas Jones' translation.

Chronologically, according to subject matter, the story of "Lludd and Llefelys" comes first, which explains in passing the dragons which were later to uncovered by Ambrosius in Nennius' _Historia Brittonum_ and by Merlin according to still later accounts.

But in order of presentation the book presents first the Mabinogi proper, _Mabinogi_ possible meaning 'Hero Tale'. The four tales of the Mabinogi supposedly take place in Britain just before the attempted invasion by Julius Caesar and Cassibelaunus who was historically Caesar's main opponent appears here as Caswallawn son of Beli. But we know from other sources that many of the characters presented here as great lords and chieftains and kings of that era were earlier gods worshipped in Gaul or Ireland or both.

Rhiannon (whom Pwyll gains as wife in the first branch) is the goddess known from Latin inscriptions in Gaul as Rigatona. Manawydan is the Irish god Manannan also known as the god of the Isle of Man. In the third branch the young and rather inactive prince Lleu is the Irish Lugh and Gaulish Lug, the most important god of the Celtic pantheon. What we are told of him here has very little relation to what is told of him in surviving Irish tales.

Who can know what these beings meant to the anynomous teller of these tales and how much is based on genuine pagan tradition and how much on inventive story telling based on stock motifs?

The second half of "Math son of Mathonwy" is easily recognizable as a variant of the second half of the ancient Egyptian "Tale of Two Brothers", commonly called the oldest extant fairy stale.

"The Dream of Macsen Wledig" is a legendary version of the career of the historical Magnus Maximus. But perhaps its connection of Magnus Maximus by marriage to a particular British noble family located at Carnarvon is historical.

"Culhwch and Olwen" is arguably the most unrestrained and wildest heroic tale preserved in any language. The legendary Arthur and his men must undertake twelve great tasks which themselves require numerous subtasks. Chief of these tasks is the hunting of the great boar Twrch Trywth to obtain the comb and shears that lie between his ears.

In style this tale is like wonder tales perserved in Gaelic about Finn Mac Cumahail and his warriors but it goes even beyond these, perhaps intended as a parody of that kind of tale, but a parody by one who loved what he was parodying.

"The Dream of Rhonabwy" tells of a mysterious vision by a medieval dreamer of Arthur and other heroes of the British heroic age of the fifth and sixth and early seventh centuries haunting still the British soil. The meaning of the violent board game between Arthur and Owein is unknown.

Last follow three knightly Arthurian romances influenced obviously by French material which tell tales already known through the French verse of Chrétien de Troyes, though "Peredur son of Efrawg" provides additional episodes and a conclusion not found in the French. It seems that the Welsh nobles for whom such tales would have been written were turning away from the native traditions of Arthur and their native heroes in favor of the more sophisticated French reworkings.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2004-09-13

Being named after one of the principle characters in the Mabinogion, I recieved this book for my first Christmas, and I have been fascinated with the Welsh myths ever since. The authors do a marvelous job of joining together the disjointed translations, making the stories ok for children without disney-fying them beyond hope. The wonder and strangeness remains, and the magic. It is a shame that it is out of print, but I would still definitely reccommend this book to anyone, adult or child. Margaret Jones's watercolors add to it immesurably. (...)

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One of the best classic fantasy series for children in English
shipped faster than expected, excellent condition
Not Free SF Reader
A good tale for all ages
Fantastic book & Series - a LOTR style book for older kids!

The Book of Three (Prydain Chronicles)
Lloyd Alexander
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440407028
Release Date: 1978-11-15

Amazon.com

The tale of Taran, assistant pig keeper, has been entertaining young readers for generations. Set in the mythical land of Prydain (which bears a more than passing resemblance to Wales), Lloyd Alexander's book draws together the elements of the hero's journey from unformed boy to courageous young man. Taran grumbles with frustration at home in the hamlet Caer Dallben; he yearns to go into battle like his hero, Prince Gwydion. Before the story is over, he has met his hero and fought the evil leader who threatens the peace of Prydain: the Horned King.

What brings the tale of Taran to life is Alexander's skillful use of humor, and the way he personalizes the mythology he has so clearly studied. Taran isn't a stick figure; in fact, the author makes a point of mocking him just at the moments when he's acting the most highhanded and heroic. When he and the young girl Eilonwy flee the castle of the wicked queen Achren, Taran emotes, "'Spiral Castle has brought me only grief; I have no wish to see it again.' 'What has it brought the rest of us?' Eilonway asked. 'You make it sound as though we were just sitting around having a splendid time while you moan and take on.'" By the end, Alexander has spun a rousing hero's tale and created a compelling coming-of-age story. Readers will sigh with relief when they realize The Book of Three is only the first of the chronicles of Prydain. --Claire Dederer

Book Description

Taran, The Assistant Pig-Keeper, longs to be a hero.

He begins his journey with a strange assortment of companions on a dangerous mission to save his beloved land, Prydain. Packed with action, humor, romance, and gallantry, Taran's adventures chronicle his beloved Prydain and his battle with the forces of evil.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best classic fantasy series for children in English.......2007-10-01

The Chronicles of Prydain were my favorite books when I was a child and it's a joy to reread them with my own children. The books are spellbinding and we loved having the first installment, The Book of Three, on CD to listen to in the car on the way to school. It got the kids hooked and now we are on the fourth book. The books are not long but they are beautifully written, layered, suspenseful and also humorous. Truly magical. My middle school student read them avidly, and my second grader makes me start reading as soon as he's up for breakfast.

shipped faster than expected, excellent condition.......2007-09-05

book shipped much faster than expected and was in excellent condition. was so happy to find a hard cover of these stories!

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Pig smarter than pig boy.

The hero of this story is a kid that is bored with the usual farm work and hanging around. He soom comes to realise that maybe that is not so bad afterall when the mystical smart pig gets away, and he runs into your garden variety evil army. These guys won't mind dicing a pig boy.

Cue adventure with royal girl, warrior, animal man, and a magic sword.

A good tale for all ages.......2007-08-09

The first book in the Prydain Chronicles, The Book of Three is a wonderful tale for people of all ages. All the books are easy to read and are fun to re-read as well. This series grows with you.

Fantastic book & Series - a LOTR style book for older kids!.......2007-08-01

Being a big fantasy & fiction fan, I was looking for some new books that would interest (me and) my 9 year-old son. I came across a new looking set of Chronicles of Prydain at a local book store w/beautiful foil accent paper covers along with a pronunciation guide inside.
I have highly recommended these books to many friends. I would urge anyone who may be put off by the Welsh character names, to not give up - but read this first book for at least 3 chapters. Great story about friendship, sacrifice, and determination (with some humor too!)

Other books I would recommend: City of Ember, People of Sparks, Peter and the Starcatchers, Harry Potter, and remaining books in Chronicles of Prydain series.

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