Post by megli on Jan 8, 2008 9:12:36 GMT -1
Hi Everyone-
you might be interested in a new publication, Marged Haycock's 'Legendary Poems from the Book of Taliesin' (CMCS, Aberystwyth, 2007), 557pp. £35.
This is a magnificent work of scholarship. It provides an edition, translation, introduction and detailed commentary on all the poems in the Book of Taliesin (c. 1375) with the mythological features with which students of the 'Brythonic Tradition' may concern themselves. There is no need ever again for anyone to pick up John Matthew's appallingly misleading and misguided Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman.
The translations are at the absolute cutting edge of modern Welsh scholarship, far far surpassing those of Skene etc, which are the ones always reproduced on the web ('The Four Ancient Books of Wales' etc.)
It is also extremely clearly written in beautiful English.
Amongst other things, Haycock reminds us that these poems mention characters from Welsh legend who are now lost to us, and allude to alternative versions of the stories we do know.
For example, one poem mentions Lleu's son, Minawg (ModW Minog), otherwise completely unknown; there are other children of Don referred to, including Eurwys, Euron(wy) ('Golden One?', a female name), Eufydd and Elestron, Hunawg ('Sleepy One'?) and Digant, about all of whom we know precisely nothing. Another theonym is provided by the name 'Lladon daughter of Lliant', 'Divine Liquid/Drink, daughter of Flood', which reminds one of all those drink-bestowing Sovereignty women in early Irish texts.
So, a rich brew.
Perhaps, if it's not thought too presumptuous, while I'm on the topic I thought I might mention a few books which might be valuable to anyone who's interested in what textual sources can help us with the Brython project (not placing their value above other, experiential sources of knowledge.) The following I would say were the essentials; some are expensive or out of print, but may be available second hand.
1) Sioned Davies, The Mabinogion.
2) Rachel Bromwich and D. Simon Evans' Culhwch and Olwen (make sure you get the Eng. edition if you don't read Welsh: it has a wonderful introduction and commentary, as well as giving the original text.)
3) P. C. Bartrum, A Welsh Classical Dictionary
(Difficult to get hold of, but incredibly useful - an alphabetic discussion of every important Welsh historical and literary character to c. 1000, in decent detail, with references.)
4) M. Stephens, Companion to the Literature of Wales
(Very useful for untangling all the different John Jones-es, and telling your Tudur Aleds from your Rhys Goch Eryris.
5) Marged Haycock's book referred to above;
6) John Koch and J. Carey, The Celtic Heroic Age.
(Convenient all-in-once place collection of mythological and heroic sources about the Celts, continental, Welsh and Irish, in English translation.)
7) R. Bromwich, Trioedd Ynys Prydein (in English, despite the title: a vital resource, and a heart-breaking insight into the treasures of Welsh tradition now lost to us.)
Hope you're all having a good January,
best wishes,
Mark
you might be interested in a new publication, Marged Haycock's 'Legendary Poems from the Book of Taliesin' (CMCS, Aberystwyth, 2007), 557pp. £35.
This is a magnificent work of scholarship. It provides an edition, translation, introduction and detailed commentary on all the poems in the Book of Taliesin (c. 1375) with the mythological features with which students of the 'Brythonic Tradition' may concern themselves. There is no need ever again for anyone to pick up John Matthew's appallingly misleading and misguided Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman.
The translations are at the absolute cutting edge of modern Welsh scholarship, far far surpassing those of Skene etc, which are the ones always reproduced on the web ('The Four Ancient Books of Wales' etc.)
It is also extremely clearly written in beautiful English.
Amongst other things, Haycock reminds us that these poems mention characters from Welsh legend who are now lost to us, and allude to alternative versions of the stories we do know.
For example, one poem mentions Lleu's son, Minawg (ModW Minog), otherwise completely unknown; there are other children of Don referred to, including Eurwys, Euron(wy) ('Golden One?', a female name), Eufydd and Elestron, Hunawg ('Sleepy One'?) and Digant, about all of whom we know precisely nothing. Another theonym is provided by the name 'Lladon daughter of Lliant', 'Divine Liquid/Drink, daughter of Flood', which reminds one of all those drink-bestowing Sovereignty women in early Irish texts.
So, a rich brew.
Perhaps, if it's not thought too presumptuous, while I'm on the topic I thought I might mention a few books which might be valuable to anyone who's interested in what textual sources can help us with the Brython project (not placing their value above other, experiential sources of knowledge.) The following I would say were the essentials; some are expensive or out of print, but may be available second hand.
1) Sioned Davies, The Mabinogion.
2) Rachel Bromwich and D. Simon Evans' Culhwch and Olwen (make sure you get the Eng. edition if you don't read Welsh: it has a wonderful introduction and commentary, as well as giving the original text.)
3) P. C. Bartrum, A Welsh Classical Dictionary
(Difficult to get hold of, but incredibly useful - an alphabetic discussion of every important Welsh historical and literary character to c. 1000, in decent detail, with references.)
4) M. Stephens, Companion to the Literature of Wales
(Very useful for untangling all the different John Jones-es, and telling your Tudur Aleds from your Rhys Goch Eryris.
5) Marged Haycock's book referred to above;
6) John Koch and J. Carey, The Celtic Heroic Age.
(Convenient all-in-once place collection of mythological and heroic sources about the Celts, continental, Welsh and Irish, in English translation.)
7) R. Bromwich, Trioedd Ynys Prydein (in English, despite the title: a vital resource, and a heart-breaking insight into the treasures of Welsh tradition now lost to us.)
Hope you're all having a good January,
best wishes,
Mark
