The Mabinogion Tetralogy

Book excerpt: The retelling of the epic Welsh myth that is “certainly among the top 5 fantasy series of the twentieth century” (sfsite.com). The Mabinogion is to Welsh mythology what the tales of Zeus, Hera, and Apollo are to Greek myth. these tales constitute a powerful work of the imagination, ranking with Tokien’s Lord of the Rings novels and T.H. White’s The Once and Future King. Evangeline Walton’s compelling rendition of these classic, thrilling stories of magic, betrayal, lost love, and bitter retribution include the encounter between Prince Pwyll and Arawn, the God of Death, which Pwyll survives by agreeing to kill the one man that Death cannot fell, and the tale of bran the blessed and his family’s epic struggle for the throne. The Mabinogion is internationally recognized as the world’s finest arc of Celtic mythology; Walton’s vivid retelling introduces an ancient world of gods and monsters, heroes, kings and quests, making accessible one of the greatest fantasy sagas of all time. “These books are not only the best fantasies of the twentieth century, but also great works of fiction. They are actual retellings of diverse legends of the Mabinogion in novel form . . . dealing with Good and Evil . . . and the nature of love.” —The Saturday Review (UK) “Magnificently conceived . . . persuasive and powerful . . . the product of keenly imaginative and well disciplined mind.” —August Derleth “Evangeline Watson’s Mabinogion books remain the benchmark against which any future retellings of the stories must be measured.” —Diana L. Paxson