Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by Peter Berresford Ellis, Ellis

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This alphabetical reference contains entries on the deities, human characters, and mythological beasts found in Celtic legends, which predate and were the source for the Irish tales that followed.

From the Publisher

Predated only by Greek and Roman legend by virtue of the fact that the Celtic languages were not written until the early Christian era, Celtic mythology developed from a far earlier oral tradition, which preserves voices from the dawn of European civilization. The peoples of these Celtic cultures survive today on the western seaboard of Europe: the Irish, Manx, and Scots who make up the Goidelic (Gaelic) speaking branch of Celts, and the Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons, who represent the Byrthonic-speaking branch.

In his introduction, Ellis discusses the roles of these six cultures, the evolution (or demise) of the languages, and the relationship between the legends, especially the Irish and Welsh, the two major Celtic cultures. The Dictionary of Celtic Mythology is an easy to read handbook, and presents a fascinating window to centuries of rich oral and written tradition from the mists of Europe's origins.

Library Journal

Celtic language and mythology, which predates the Greeks and Romans, descends from an ancient oral tradition. Celtic culture was the first to develop a philosophy of immortality. Ellis, author of A Dictionary of Irish Mythology (ABC-Clio, 1991) here dissects the scope of Celtic myth and legend. Comparisons are offered among the six cultures: Irish, Welsh, Manx, Scottish, Cornish, and Breton. A very good introduction discusses the roles of the cultures, the evolution (or demise) of the language, and the legends. The entries are thorough and well written. An excellent selected bibliography rounds out this interesting reference. For large mythology collections.-- Gail Wood, Montgomery Coll. Lib., Germantown, Md.

Booknews

Articles ranging from a paragraph to a page identify and describe people, places, events, and concepts associated with the mythology of Celtic peoples. Like his 1989 similar treatment of Irish mythology, historian and novelist Ellis addresses the general reader, rather than the scholar, in clear and lively prose. The information from Ireland is here incorporated in less detail. He does an excellent job of identifying modern editions of the works the topics come from. Even the general reader, however, might appreciate a notice of which work a particular character appears in. In addition, any such dictionary that indicated, even generally, how to pronounce the names, would become a beloved classic to generations of popular readers. (GD) Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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