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Mythology of the British Isles

The Geoffrey Ashe Histories

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Mythology of the British Isles

By: Geoffrey Ashe
Narrated by: Jeremy Nichols
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A brilliant exploration of the legends of the British Isles.

From the dark centuries of British prehistory to the ninth century AD, comes tales of giants and fairy-folk of druids and saints. From King Lear and King Arthur, to Fingal, Beowulf, Gwendolen, and Guinevere legendary characters have shaped the making of the nation.

But who were they? In Mythology of the British Isles, Geoffrey Ashe explores how each of these stories are inter-connected, and how they have taken on fresh significance and meaning as historical and archaeological research has uncovered the truth behind each legend.

He demonstrates, too, how legends from Ireland, such as The Voyages of Bran and Saint Brendan, shed unexpected light on British stories like Arthur’s voyage to Avalon. And modern myths and beliefs are examined and placed in context, from the Glastonbury Zodiac and the interpretation of ley lines, to the possible biblical pedigree of modern royalty.

In Mythology of the British Isles, Geoffrey Ashe uncovers a British mythology, which is comparable to the Greek in its richness and cohesiveness, and which possesses a national genius all of its own.

©2020 Lume Books (P)2021 Lume Books Customs & Traditions Europe Great Britain Social Sciences Tradition Royalty Mythology Arthurian England Sailing British History
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Critic reviews

"A 'must-have' for anyone interested in the history and mythology of the British Isles." (Medieval History)
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I love this audiobook. It covers myth, legend and history together showing its similarities and difference and drawing from writers of ancient history and various stories of the British isles. It was fascinating to me and just what I was looking for. Some have said the narration was dull but I didn’t find this. I preferred this down to Earth, easy to follow narration to some on audible that are American and read as though they are reading a highly dramatised Hollywood movie trailer!

Brilliant

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Really well read and well articulated. Will be returning to this again soon. Highly recommended

Epic

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I really enjoyed this book, and totally disagree with reviews that criticise the narration, I found it engaging. I've just purchased his other audible titles after enjoying this so much.

Great content, really interesting

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This is a complex topic with many inter-weaving stories, some evolved from earlier tales, with names that are similar or might be related (or might not) so it needs a very sharp narrator to maintain one's focus. I found the narrator a bit uninspired, as if he was really not very interested in what he was reading - which made the book rather hard going.

The book itself contains a wealth of information - some of it inevitably speculative - and traces some of British mythology from 'were we founded by renegade Trojans?' to 'who might King Arthur have been?'. There is a lot of interesting stuff here but I found it hard to keep hold of - perhaps because of the plethora of similar names, or because of the various digressions covering related myths (or possible origin stories), or perhaps just because mythologies are, by their very nature, all rather evanescent.

I suspect it's a book that is better to read rather than to listen to, so you can pause, glance back a page or two and 'reset' yourself as you go along. Having said that it maintained my interest (despite the rather monotone narration) and there are some interesting nuggets o ponder on.

Not very accessible

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What could have been a good audiobook is let down by the monotone drone of the reader. It sent me to sleep.

Disappointing.

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