Wise and Foolish Tongue: Celtic Stories and Poems

by Robin Williamson

The high romance of Tristan and Isolde, the mysteries of Merlin, the legend of King Arthur and other lesser known tales are retold in the engaging rhythms of a born storyteller in The Wise and Foolish Tongue. These ancient tales and poems will take you on a magical journey to the heart of Celtic wisdom. These traditional fables include stories of frightening goblins and vengeful wizards, wandering ghosts and famous bards, beauteous princesses and noble warriors, cunning dwarves and dim-witted giants. For those who wish to delve into the roots of legend, or who simply wish to relish these poignant and rollicking tales, The Wise and Foolish Tongue will provide endless fascination. Robin Williamson, a founding member of The Incredible String Band—one of the most popular and influential folk-rock bands of the sixties—has developed a contemporary songwriting style based on Celtic instrumentation and tradition. Robin Williamson has since become well-known as a professional storyteller. Williamson has an enthusiastic following in the United States and abroad.

Genres: Mythology

157 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

Scottish musician, singer, poet, storyteller, and author.

Reviews

[Fred Mindlin]

Robin has researched Celtic lore more deeply than anyone I've ever met, and in this book he's reimagined and retold many classic tales, including the legends of Merlin, in true bardic tradition. A delightful and amazing book.

[Kris]

Lots of good stories and poetry here - some you may recognise from Williamson's performances and recordings. Worth buying just for a print copy of his amazing poetic rendering of The Voyage of Bran, but there are plenty of other gems.

[Elizabeth]

Wise and Foolish Tongue by Robin Williamson - You should read this just to appreciate the language and exquisite writing! Happy Reading!

[Monica]

What a treat! I haven't opened this in a long time and see that the man himself signed my copy. What I love to do is pop in a cd of Robin reading and read along ie. The Battle of the Trees The Birth of Talesin. This type of book is good to read outloud to yourself or to someone else who might not object.

[Jinjer Stanton]

Took me places in celtic mythology I've been dreaming of going. I'll be keeping it for reference you can be sure. It is well written and has a mystic appeal.