Ireland's Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth

ISBN: 069118304X

Author: Williams, Mark

Condition: Used

A sweeping history of Ireland's native gods, from Iron Age cult and medieval saga to the Celtic Revival and contemporary fictionIrelands Immortals tells the story of one of the worlds great mythologies. The first account of the gods of Irish myth to take in the whole sweep of Irish literature in both the nations languages, the book describes how Irelands pagan divinities were transformed into literary characters in the medieval Christian era-and how they were recast again during the Celtic Revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A lively narrative of supernatural beings and their fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories, Mark Williamss comprehensive history traces how these gods-known as the Túatha Dé Danann-have shifted shape across the centuries. We meet the Morrígan, crow goddess of battle; the fire goddess Brigit, who moonlights as a Christian saint; the fairies who inspired J.R.R. Tolkiens elves; and many others. Irelands Immortals illuminates why these mythical beings have loomed so large in the worlds imagination for so long.