Lady Charlotte Guest

The Mabinogion consists of the earliest prose literature in Great Britain, the manuscripts of which originate in 12th century Welsh, with some dating earlier, to the oral tradition of the Middle Ages. Many of the stories in the Mabinogion would become famous anew thanks to the efforts of the translator. Rendered in modern English, the narratives of an era long departed reflect the time - events such as war, the idea of chivalric romance, and the prevalence of sorcery and mystical goings on are common devices in the stories. Much of what is here was passed onto other, later authors - the notion of the Medieval era as one laden with strange beasts, magic, and valiant combat originates with tales like those in the Mabinogion. This edition of the ancient stories was translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, an English aristocrat who was most famous for this work. Accomplished with languages from a young age, she gathered from obscure archives the manuscripts, arranged and presented them in modern English to an audience hitherto unfamiliar with the stories in their original form. Attentive readers will notice inspirations and similarities with English romances and other lore, but also the unique and distinct Welsh culture. Appended to this reprint are Guest's original notes, plus the verses of the Taliesin which is the book's concluding story. In all, this collection offers a sublime window to Welsh culture and folklore.

The Red Book of Hergest - The Myths, Legends and Folk Stories of Wales

The Mabinogion

James Knowles

Colin Bradshaw-Jones

There are more stories about King Arthur than you ever knew. Some of them may even be true. This massive collection spans the centuries of Arthurian legend. We are taken back to the sixth century in 'A Time Before Tales' by Colin Bradshaw-Jones. This controversial tale gives one possible explanation for a real Arthur. We are then transported to the medieval 'Kilhwch and Olwen' from The Mabinogion, translated by Lady Charlotte Guest. The story can lay claim to be one of the earliest written Arthurian romances in any language. Finally, Sir James Knowles gives us the epic collection which most closely resembles the King Arthur we know today, and which forms the largest portion of the book; 'And as they prayed, there was seen in the churchyard, set straight before the doorways of the church, a huge square stone having a naked sword stuck in the midst of it. And on the sword was written in letters of gold, "Whoso pulleth out the sword from this stone is born the rightful King of Britain."'

Lady Charlotte Guest

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