Literature

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

A sweeping history of Ireland's native gods, from Iron Age cult and medieval saga to the Celtic Revival and contemporary fiction

Paperback

Price:
$29.95/拢25.00
ISBN:
Published:
Dec 4, 2018
Copyright:
2019
Pages:
608
Size:
6.12 x 9.25 in.
Illus:
25 b/w illus., 1 tables
Main_subject:
Literature
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Ireland鈥檚 Immortals tells the story of one of the world鈥檚 great mythologies. The first account of the gods of Irish myth to take in the whole sweep of Irish literature in both the nation鈥檚 languages, the book describes how Ireland鈥檚 pagan divinities were transformed into literary characters in the medieval Christian era鈥攁nd 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 Williams鈥檚 comprehensive history traces how these gods鈥攌nown as the T煤atha D茅 Danann鈥攈ave shifted shape across the centuries. We meet the Morr铆gan, crow goddess of battle; the fire goddess Brigit, who moonlights as a Christian saint; the fairies who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien鈥檚 elves; and many others. Ireland鈥檚 Immortals illuminates why these mythical beings have loomed so large in the world鈥檚 imagination for so long.

Awards and Recognition

  • Honorable Mention for the 2017 PROSE Award in Literature, Association of American Publishers