On the Verge of Lunacy

History tells of a woman who defied tradition to follow her heart's desire and succeeded. Grania was the daughter of the Black Oak Dubhdara and Mairgret of clan O Malley. When most women were expected to fulfill their roles and housewives, Grania instead wanted to sail the seas. At a very young age she was known for her willfulness and insight. A natural leader known for her charisma and unconventional means to get what she wanted, she was a constant object of admiration and sometimes resentment of men and women alike.  First married to Donal O Flaherty, Grania has had her share of lovers like most heroes portrayed in adventure stories. Although I'm not fond of romance, Grania's affairs seem intriguing and more often her treatment of the men is refreshing for a lead female character. She still retains her qualities of being a woman, a mother, and a wife ---aspects that give her more advantage over the male leaders who are also after power. It is only fitting there...

This collection of the majority of European mythology will make the lover of myths cry out for joy. Bulfinch's Mythology includes Greek and Roman myths; Norse; Celtic; Arthurian and British legends (Beowulf, Hereward and Robin Hood); tales of Charlemagne's Paladins; and a few Egyptian and Eastern (Zoroastrian/Persian, Hindu, Buddhist) myths and legends. The stories are limited however and only the more popular tales are included. It is a general overview of most myths but the focus, as expected, is still on Classical Mythology. The pages dedicated to the Greek and Roman gods take up most of the book, followed by Charlemagne's Peers. Despite my disappointed to find that I'd be reading stories I'm already familiar with, the book does have its surprises. There is a chapter dedicated to monsters and how myths are formed. Some of the epics are summarized, much to my dismay, but it might be a good introduction for readers who find the longer versions too te...

This comprehensive book on the chariot is comprehensive, engaging, reader-friendly, and well-organized. Casual readers need not worry about the names and events mentioned in the book because the author provides the necessary information. While students will find the notes and references section helpful for further studies. The book covers three continents and historical events and mythological scenes of the three epics, Iliad, Mahabharata, and Ramayana. It has eight chapters and several illustrations. The author discussed the possible origins of the chariot; its uses; modifications and variations of the chariot in each region; impact of the chariot on warfare; the use of weapons, armor, and;domestication of animals used for pulling, the formation of the armies in consideration of the chariots; the symbolism of the chariot; and finally the gradual decline of its use.  The following are the chapters included in this volume: I. Chariot Battle II. The Rise of the Cha...

This book gives an overview of the Irish myths and legends and the existing problems in the  study of this field. O'Grady proposes the creation of a book that will cover both epic and annalistic/genealogical literature. He claims that although bardic literature constitutes the glory of early Irish history, it is also the stumbling block in its appreciation. There is a short introduction to bardic history as well as an overview of the five ages that should make up his proposed book. He also gives an account of the evolution of the pantheon and how important it is to include the cycles in the proposed book. A section on the deification of heroes and kings is informative. The mythological record of the bards according to O'Grady is as follows: Age of Keasair Age of Partholan and the Earliest Fomorian Gods Age of the Nemedian Gods and Second Cycle of the Fomorians Firbolgs and Third Cycle of the Fomoroh Last Cycle: Tuatha de Danan I don't recommend th...

Irish Fairy Tales is a collection of ten stories mostly about the Fenian Cycle. The tales which feature Finn primarily, begins with the story of the settlement of different races in Ireland. The rest of the stories are about the people related to Finn or about Finn himself. The following are the stories contained in this book: The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill The Boyhood of Fionn The Birth of Bran Oisin's Mother The Wooing of Becfola The Little Brawl at Allen The Carl of the Drab Coat The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran Becuma of the White Skin Morgan's Frenzy Although most of the stories are related to the Fenian cycle, there was no mention of Oisin other than the story of his birth. There was no mention of Grania and Dermot too. The stories are easy to understand even if the reader is not familiar with Celtic mythology in general. When Stephens used an unfamiliar term, he explained its meaning. Readers who are well-versed with the Fenian cycle however, will find...

This is a must-read for people who love the Arthurian legends. The selections were chosen from The Mabinogion and Le Morte d'Arthur and were divided into eleven major parts. It was also arranged chronologically although there will be hints about the coming events in the first few chapters. Major characters like Lancelot, Merlin and others have sections or 'Books' dedicated to them. I advise the reader to not skip the introduction. It provides some background about the legends, the sources, and even a little bit of history about Britain. Except for the hints that will spoil the mysetery for first-time readers of the Arthurian legends, this a fun and easy read. Only the important figures were included in this as well as most of the well-known stories about Arthur and his Knights. I'm giving this book a 9 out of 10 rating . I recommend The Mabinogion by Lady Charlotte Guest for further reading.

This is a collection of twelve interconnected stories of the heroic age of the British Isles. Those who are fans of legends about King Arthur will find this book interesting. Note however that this is not exactly about Arthur himself. There are some disputes to the meaning of mabinogion but I'll just go with the more popular translation of the word mabinogi which is "aspirant to bardic honor" or "someone who is apprenticed to a bard." The following are the tales included in this book: The Lady of the Fountain Peredur the Son of Evrawc Geraint the Son of Erbin Kilhwch and Olwen or The Twrch Trwyth The Dream of Rhonabwy Pwyll Prince of Dyved* Branwen the Daughter of Llyr* Manawyddan the Son of Llyr* Math the Son of Mathonwy* The Dream of Maxen Wledig The Story of Lludd and Llevelys Taliesin *Four Branches of the Mabinogion The author provides an introduction about how she chose to include the twelve stories listed above.  She also provided a ...

This book tells us the colorful childhood days and the coming of age of the Celtic race's greatest hero. The book is divided into sixteen chapters. Each one is about the important events in Sentanta's life, who later on became known as Cuchulain, that marked the important influences and the people that shaped his life. There is also a chapter about Deirdre, whose life and misadventures indirectly influences the events the next events. Readers who are not familiar with this myth will not find this book difficult to understand. The uncommon words that are used are explained. The introduction will also provide additional information to the reader. The book tells only the story up to Cuchulain's coming of age after he was knighted. This will serve as a good introduction to the Ultonian cycle. If the reader wants to know what happens next to Cuchulain, I recommend Myths of the Norsemen by H.A. Guerber and Red Branch by Morgan Llywelyn. O'Grady's narrative is...

This book is a great introduction to Celtic culture and mythology. One of the highlights is the introduction of Celtic culture based on written accounts and archaeological evidence. Most books about myths often proceed to the recounting of the stories right after a brief introduction. Knowing about the culture and background of the people behind it will make it easier for the readers to understand the motivation and inspirations behind the tales. The book is divided into eight chapters. The ff. is the list of the titles of those sections: 1. The Celts in Ancient History 2. The Religion of the Celts 3. The Irish Invasion Myths 4. The Early Milesian Kings 5. Tales of the Ultonian Cycle 6. Tales of the Ossianic Cycle 7. The Voyage of Maeldun 8. Myths and Tales of the Cymry The second chapter discusses the possible origin of the religious practices and worship of the Celts. While the third chapter is about the first of the four main divisions of the Irish mythical and lege...