Morwen.FiadhHere’s a book that I cannot recommend enough to anyone who is interested in Irish mythology: ‘The Children of Danu’ by Daniel Allison.
The book is a beautiful retelling of the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions, an 11th century book telling the history of Ireland) and other stories such as ‘Immram Brain’ (the Voyage of Bran).
What I love about this book is how the author kept the imaginative, mysterious and poetic ‘voice’ that myths have, but at the same time made all these stories into a coherent narrative. The world of Irish mythology can be complex and daunting, but this book is an excellent starting point.
It is coherent and accessible, but not over-simplified. He has added narrative flow and he brings characters to life without turning it into a myth-inspired-fantasy novel. The author clearly has great reverence and respect for these old tales and for the art of storytelling, and reading the book feels like reading a labour of love. It’s clear that a great deal of research went into writing this book. There are notes for each chapter in the appendix, telling the reader more about the source, research or what adjustments the author made.
An absolutely beautiful and immersive read, I immediately ran to the bookshop to order more books written by Daniel Allison.
Morwen.Fiadh Here’s a book that I cannot recommend enough to anyone who is interested in Irish mythology: ‘The Children of Danu’ by Daniel Allison.
Show moreThe book is a beautiful retelling of the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions, an 11th century book telling the history of Ireland) and other stories such as ‘Immram Brain’ (the Voyage of Bran).
What I love about this book is how the author kept the imaginative, mysterious and poetic ‘voice’ that myths have, but at the same time made all these stories into a coherent narrative. The world of Irish mythology can be complex and daunting, but this book is an excellent starting point.
It is coherent and accessible, but not over-simplified. He has added narrative flow and he brings characters to life without turning it into a myth-inspired-fantasy novel. The author clearly has great reverence and respect for these old tales and for the art of storytelling, and reading the book feels like reading a labour of love. It’s clear that a great deal of research went into writing this book. There are notes for each chapter in the appendix, telling the reader more about the source, research or what adjustments the author made.
An absolutely beautiful and immersive read, I immediately ran to the bookshop to order more books written by Daniel Allison.
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