Myth, legend, and folklore have been entrenched in children's
literature for several centuries and continue to be popular. Some
of the most ancient traditional tales still extant come from the
Celtic cultures of France and the British Isles, whose languages
are among the oldest in Europe. Among these tales are four native
Welsh legends collectively known as the Mabinogi, which were first
translated into English in 1845 by Lady Charlotte Guest. Numerous
children's books have been based on the Mabinogi since then, and
many have received awards and critical acclaim. Because these books
are written for children, they are not necessarily faithful
retellings of the original tales. Instead, authors have had to
select certain elements to include and others to exclude. This book
examines how authors of children's fantasy literature from the 19th
century to the present have adapted Welsh myth to meet the
perceived needs of their young audience.
The volume begins with a summary of the four principle tales of
the Mabinogi: "Pwyll Prince of Dyfed," "Branwen Daughter of Llyr,"
"Manawydan Son of Llyr," and "Math Son of Mathonwy." Books based on
the Mabinogi generally fall into two categories: retellings of the
myths, and original works of fantasy partially inspired by the
Welsh tales. Beginning with Sidney Lanier's "The Boy's Mabinogion,"
the first part of this book examines versions of the myths
published for children between 1881 and 1988. The second part
discusses imaginative literature that borrows elements from the
Mabinogi, including Alan Garner's "The Owl Service," which won a
Carnegie medal, and Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, the
final volume of which received the ALA Newbery Award for
outstanding children's book.
General
Imprint: |
Praeger Publishers Inc
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy |
Release date: |
April 1998 |
First published: |
April 1998 |
Authors: |
Donna R. White
|
Dimensions: |
235 x 156 x 14mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
176 |
Edition: |
New |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-313-30570-2 |
Categories: |
Books >
Social sciences >
General
|
LSN: |
0-313-30570-6 |
Barcode: |
9780313305702 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!