Celtic Tales: Legends of Tall Warriors and Old Enchantments

by Barbara Leonie Picard, John G. Galsworthy (Illustrator)

This retelling of legends of tall warriors and old enchantments takes its place beside the author’s two previous titles, “Hero Tales of the British Isles” and “Tales of the British People”. As in the earlier books, Miss Picard’s writing captures the magical quality so fitting for these strange tales of love and violence and heroism in which the legendary heroes of Ireland play such dramatic roles.

She writes of the people of Dana, the strange colorful gods of ancient Ireland; of Finn and the Fianna, some of the greatest heroes of all legends, and of a different King Arthur-not Malory’s pattern of chivalry nor yet the Celtic deity he may originally have been, but both a fine warrior and a more than human figure.

The varied tales include “The Children of Lir” - one of the Three Sorrows of storytelling; “The Bride-price for Olwen”, in which Kilhwch has to win countless treasures and accomplish great feats, with Arthur’s help; the light-hearted “The Pursuit of the Hard Man” which shows Finn and his warriors in a not-so-serious light, and many other stories to stir the imagination.

. . . Once again, the author has written brief introductory notes relating each story to a specific background.

CONTENTS:
Preface
1. The Children of Lir
2. The Adventures of Manawyddan
3. Midir and Etain
4. The Bride-price for Olwen
5. The Pursuit of the Hard Man
6. The House of the Rowan Trees
7. Oisin, Son of Finn Mac Cool
8. The Voyage of Maeldun
9. The Dream of Rhonabwy
A Note on the Pronunciation
List of Names

159 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1964

About the author

Barbara Leonie Picard's first book was published in 1949, and was followed by over twenty more, all of which received praise for the mature and thought-provoking fare they offered young readers. She is well-known for her re-tellings of Homer, Gilgamesh, and ancient myths for young readers.