Dictionary of Celtic Mythology

So you listen to Loreena MacKennitt and love you a good Celtic knot. You know vaguely that Brigid is a Christian saint who started as an Irish goddess, and that Taliesin had something to do with bards. If you want to learn more, pick up this book. Sure it's a dictionary, but if you have a couple hours, you could read it cover to cover and come away with more colorful stories of heros and gods and beasts than you ever could have imagined. For being a reference book, it reads as well as most short story compendiums. Informative and a fun read!

My copy of this tremendously helpful book is completely dog-eared. Interestingly enough, I bought the book not because of my interest in Celtic and Druidic studies, but because I play an online multiplayer game called Dark Age of Camelot. As I was playing I noticed a couple of "mobs" (monsters) which seemed curiously in tune with their natural meanings. I work at a bookstore and picked this book up on my break to look up a few more of the mobs and found them all in there. Over time, I found that the game was startling on target with mobs, non-player characters and mythic storyline. I have since used it for a number of other Celtic "look ups" and just love having this book handy. It is nearly indespensible in my mind.

This reference book isn't perfect, but I have found that its comprehensiveness makes up for its problems. Another big plus in its favor is that it is clear and accessible, allowing both the reader with a casual interest in Celtic mythology as well as the more serious student to appreciate it.

Less expensive dictionaries of Celtic mythology are available, but this carefully researched, extensive volume is well worth the price. Entries cover tales and characters both mythological and historical (in Celtic materials, the difference is not always easy to discern). Besides describing what is known about the topic, each entry includes the primary references. For tales, the references include the published editions. No other dictionary offers this depth of information. Those unfamiliar with Celtic languages will appreciate the guides to pronunciation that accompany the entries. Although not faultless, this source is a necessary addition to the home library for anyone who intends to explore Celtic culture and literature. You'll use it to keep track of the players as you read the tales!

This is a scholarly reference work that had an entry for every topic I could imagine ever wanting to look up. This book is a good antidote for a lot of the poorly researched or downright fanciful material that's been published regarding Celtic religion/myths/etc. Full of references to both the original stories & other scholarly works.