The Mabinogion | 
so-soUm it's knights in brocaded silk roaming around and bedding maidens and killing earls and plucking the beard hairs off of strong men while they're knocked out (followed by killing them?). It's kind of a mess but don't worry, every maiden is the most beautiful woman possible: skin as white as a swan's ass, lips redder than the reddest blood, hair as blonde as broom flowers?, wearing brocaded silk, snow white booba, eyes like beautiful eyes-
pickThis is not a light read but an interesting one for those who like mythology, Wales, and/or Arthurian legends -- it's interesting to compare these tellings with the other ones I know. Check out the explanatory notes too; they are a big help.
A couple of tales in The Mabinogion mention people making fancy shoes out of cordovan leather. This information unexpectedly came in handy while doing the crossword 🤓✏️
My goal for the #CYOReadathon: finish The Mabinogion! (Hey, that almost rhymed!)
so-soThis is the source of much of Welsh folklore and mythology. I appreciate that immensely. Some of the tales are excellent and genuinely fun to read. Others are somewhat boring and bogged down by long lists of names and genealogies. This is not uncommon in older works and I try to ignore it stylistically. If one were to pick and choose stories, skipping some, the reading would be more enjoyable.
I love this section from ‘Culhwch ac Olwen‘:
“He had a battle-axe in his hand... it would draw blood from the wind. His steed‘s four hoofs would cut out four clods, like four swallows in the air above him. Not even a tip of a hair on him stirred, so light was his steed‘s canter beneath him on his way to the gate of Arthur‘s court”. 💕🤓📜📝 #phdlife
Some Welsh and Irish tales for #uncannyoctober day 3: fables and folklore.
Here‘s a mini #shelfie with our oldest Everyman titles ❤️. I love the intricate decorations on the spines.
#RiotGrams
pickA dreamy, enchanting mix of Celtic mythology, Arthurian romance, British history, and even some fairy tale elements are combined in this collection of medieval Welsh stories. Magical cauldrons, a lady made out of flowers, people turned into mice, fearsome dragons, and meddlesome witches abound.
Who could've known, murdering a woman's husband might possibly hurt the odds of beginning a relationship with that woman...
Welsh book haul, part 1. Bought this at the National Museum of Wales.
In "How Culhwch Won Olwen", there are literally 9pgs dedicated to envoking a list of names, from old gods, King Authur's ancestors, to a pig keeper who was Really good at his job.
It's a long list but worth reading through, I can only imagine how it sounded when the story was passed on orally
The Mabinogion is a collection of medieval Welsh stories. Sioned Davies' translation is amazing! I have studied all of these stories in Uni and they are beautiful. If you love tales like Beowulf or The Volsung Saga you will love these as well. This collection also contains early Welsh versions of Chretien de Troyes' Arthurian Romances. And the earliest Arthurian tale Culwch ac Olwen! These stories have a special place in my heart.
I loved the Inkheart books so I have high hopes for Dragon Rider. I haven't read the Mabinogion yet, but it's in the queue. I have quite a few books of myths, legends, folktales, etc. that I'm working my way through! I enjoyed Legends of Ancient Egypt, although it wasn't as fun as some of the other mythology books I've read. I probably have other #TranslatedBooks, but these were the first that sprang to mind! #somethingforsept #septphotochallenge
Spending the weekend curled up with an original edition of this beauty. She's awfully fragile - but so would I be at 106 or so. Loving these Welsh tales of chivalry!
I watched an episode of The Secret Life of Books that was all about the Mabinogion, and now I'm excited to read it. Not exactly a summer read, but the hey!
I was a total nerd for Arthur stories as a young'un and I always wanted to read this but never managed to. So I picked it for WORD's classics book group (this is the year of international classics). We'll see if anyone shows up! (This is Molly Code for WHAT HAVE I DONE.)
