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Celtic Myth: A Treasury of Legends, Art, and History: A Treasury of Legends, Art, and History
Celtic A Treasury of Legends, Art, and History
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
23 people want to read
About the author
James Harpur
66 books10 followersJames Harpur has had four poetry collections published by Anvil Press: A Vision of Comets (1993), The Monk’s Dream (1996), Oracle Bones (2001) and The Dark Age (2007). Anvil have also published his Fortune’s Prisoner, a translation of the poems of Boethius. In addition, he has published a sequence of religious poems called The Gospel of Joseph of Arimathea (Wild Goose, 2008). His prose publications include Love Burning in the Soul (Shambhala, 2005), an introduction to the Christian mystics.
After studying Classics and English at university, he taught English on the island of Crete then worked as a lexicographer. He is now a freelance writer.
James has won a number of prizes for his poetry, including the 1995 British National Poetry Competition. He has received various awards and bursaries, such as from Cork Arts, the Eric Gregory Trust, the Society of Authors, the Arts Council (UK), and the Hawthornden Foundation. His poems have been broadcast on national and local radio in Ireland and the UK and have appeared in various anthologies. These include Staying Alive (Bloodaxe, 2002), Ireland’s Love Poems (Kyle Cathie, 2000), The New Exeter Book of Riddles (Enitharmon, 2002), The Forward Book of Poetry (Faber, 2001), Voices in the Gallery (Tate Publishing 1986).
He has performed his poetry widely at poetry festivals and venues, including the Triskel Arts Centre (Cork), the Voice Box (London), the ICA (London), and the Irish Writers’ Centre (Dublin). He has held poetry residencies at the Munster Literature Centre in Cork and at Exeter Cathedral in the UK.
He is currently poetry editor of the Temenos Academy Review, a publication founded by the poet and William Blake scholar, Kathleen Raine, and of Southword, one of Ireland’s leading literary journals.
He lives in County Cork, Ireland.
After studying Classics and English at university, he taught English on the island of Crete then worked as a lexicographer. He is now a freelance writer.
James has won a number of prizes for his poetry, including the 1995 British National Poetry Competition. He has received various awards and bursaries, such as from Cork Arts, the Eric Gregory Trust, the Society of Authors, the Arts Council (UK), and the Hawthornden Foundation. His poems have been broadcast on national and local radio in Ireland and the UK and have appeared in various anthologies. These include Staying Alive (Bloodaxe, 2002), Ireland’s Love Poems (Kyle Cathie, 2000), The New Exeter Book of Riddles (Enitharmon, 2002), The Forward Book of Poetry (Faber, 2001), Voices in the Gallery (Tate Publishing 1986).
He has performed his poetry widely at poetry festivals and venues, including the Triskel Arts Centre (Cork), the Voice Box (London), the ICA (London), and the Irish Writers’ Centre (Dublin). He has held poetry residencies at the Munster Literature Centre in Cork and at Exeter Cathedral in the UK.
He is currently poetry editor of the Temenos Academy Review, a publication founded by the poet and William Blake scholar, Kathleen Raine, and of Southword, one of Ireland’s leading literary journals.
He lives in County Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2023
Decent introduction to the major cycles of Celtic myth. Mainly focuses on Cuchulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhaill, and also includes some Welsh tales. It includes photos of historical objects (like statues, earthenware and jewelry) to supplement the stories, which is a nice touch. The back of the book also has a timeline and glossary which is helpful.
While the book does a fine job of telling major the major hero stories, I had two major problems with the book. The Irish language is notoriously difficult to pronounce, and the book includes pronunciation guides, which would be helpful if they were correct. But at least in some places, the book's guide is wrong. I know that pronunciation varies greatly region to region within the country, but at no time have I ever encountered "Bell-tenner" as a pronunciation for the holiday Beltaine. This automatically calls into question every other pronunciation provided by the author. Additionally, some of the information about the basic pantheon of major Celtic gods and goddesses doesn't align with the sources the book itself cites.
While the book does a fine job of telling major the major hero stories, I had two major problems with the book. The Irish language is notoriously difficult to pronounce, and the book includes pronunciation guides, which would be helpful if they were correct. But at least in some places, the book's guide is wrong. I know that pronunciation varies greatly region to region within the country, but at no time have I ever encountered "Bell-tenner" as a pronunciation for the holiday Beltaine. This automatically calls into question every other pronunciation provided by the author. Additionally, some of the information about the basic pantheon of major Celtic gods and goddesses doesn't align with the sources the book itself cites.
July 14, 2024
Although the myths were interesting, they were very few without almost no details and there were a lot of general facts in the middle of the story which was breaking the flow
November 6, 2012
I had a migraine (thanks, vog) and I find it rather difficult to read with a migraine...and not for lack of interest, I just can't make my eyes focus on the page. But I picked up with book while shelving at the library on a whim...and I discovered that, if the print is large enough, I can read even with a migraine!
This is my first foray into Celtic myth. I found it all very interesting, and reading this allowed me to feel productive. It was presented in such an easy to understand way that, even lacking the majority of my mental facilities, I was able to understand it. The pictures were chosen well, and I found the way Harpur wove history and art etc into his book acceptable.
The only reason this book didn't get five stars is, though I have never read anything else about the Celts, the stories felt watered down. I know, I know, that was the point for the intended audience but I still would have appreciated more depth.
This is my first foray into Celtic myth. I found it all very interesting, and reading this allowed me to feel productive. It was presented in such an easy to understand way that, even lacking the majority of my mental facilities, I was able to understand it. The pictures were chosen well, and I found the way Harpur wove history and art etc into his book acceptable.
The only reason this book didn't get five stars is, though I have never read anything else about the Celts, the stories felt watered down. I know, I know, that was the point for the intended audience but I still would have appreciated more depth.
August 31, 2008
Interesting, readable selection of myths with vignettes about Celtic art, history, building, etc.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews