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  • Celtic Mythology

  • Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes
  • Written by: Philip Freeman
  • Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
  • Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (49 ratings)

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Celtic Mythology

Written by: Philip Freeman
Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
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Publisher's Summary

Most people have heard of the Celts - the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist. In this book, for the first time, Philip Freeman brings together the best stories of Celtic mythology.

Everyone today knows about the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks, such as Zeus, Hera, and Hercules, but how many people have heard of the Gaulish god Lugus or the magical Welsh queen Rhiannon or the great Irish warrior Cú Chulainn? We still thrill to the story of the Trojan War, but the epic battles of the Irish Táin Bó Cuailgne are known only to a few. And yet those who have read the stories of Celtic myth and legend - among them writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis - have been deeply moved and influenced by these amazing tales, for there is nothing in the world quite like them. In these stories a mysterious and invisible realm of gods and spirits exists alongside and sometimes crosses over into our own human world; fierce women warriors battle with kings and heroes, and even the rules of time and space can be suspended. Captured in vivid prose these shadowy figures - gods, goddesses, and heroes - come to life for the modern listener.

©2017 Philip Freeman (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about Celtic Mythology

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too many cut Corners

This was very disappointing. Written by an American and narrated by an Englishman (albeit of Irish parents) but born and raised in England. His Irish accent is put on for the narration, and the narrator has absolutely no idea about speaking Irish Gaelic. It is an anthology of a vast mythology, and so gives only a thumbnail sketch, and is clearly being expressed through the lens of someone completely immersed in classical/colonial/abrahamic world view. How many times do I have to say this. IF A BOOK CONTAINS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, THE NARRATOR MUST BE FLUENT IN THAT LANGUAGE. It's a total brutalization of the lore, the flow, and the Irish language.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Rushed

Probably spoiled after Stephen Fry's amazing audio books on Greek mythology. Expected a more Celtic version, didn't get anywhere near despite the narrator's lovely accent. There were a few solid moments, learned a bit as well.

On the whole, the structure just felt lacking and rushed. Not much for the goddess aspect as far as I could tell. Sadly most of the female characters? were presented as commodities and baby machines with the odd witch/sorceress thrown in. The male counterparts weren't presented in the best light either coming of as raging ego drunks in a d^*! measuring competition. Possibly my bad for having expectations of a Celtic version of the more familiar Greek and Roman mythological structure/ style.

Happy listening!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book on Irish Mythology

Fantastic book if you want to learn about Irish Myths. Narration is beautiful, accent brings me back home

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting story hard to listen to

I really like learning about Celtic mythology but the thick Irish accent of the narrator sometime make what he is saying hard to understand.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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bad reading

sounds like one whole sentence, monotonous.
missing the emotions and life, thus making you lose interest

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great introduction

Enjoyed the introduction to Celtic mythology, mostly uninterrupted stories which is what I was hoping for. I could use a bit of context for these stories, but I will seek that elsewhere.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A different perspective on history.

Who and what we are based on the lighting of ancient myths. Actually a view of human drives and fears in the simple terms of pretech days.

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