Morgan Llywelyn has a unique gift. She can take the most legenday, mythic stories and bring them back to a human level. She has written books about some of the most powerful, legendary figures in Celtic mythology and somehow manages to make the reader see that there was a person, with human hopes, faults and feelings, underneath the trappings of the myth. She makes us identify and feel for them, while never sacrificing the mythic, epic feel that marked the characters as legendary. She is especially skilled at touching on the magic, otherworldly qualities that permeate Celtic myth.
I was introduced to these books by grandfather, John O'Shea. As his parents were born and raised in Ireland, it was natural that he have an interest in Irish myths and stories. He passed that interest down to me and then gave me Morgan Llywelyn's books as a way of stimulating my interest in the stories as well as some great conversations over many a sushi dinner.
These books act as a link between me and him, which is especially precious now that he has passed away. It is for this reason that I dedicate this page to my grandfather, John O'Shea.
The Books:
Bard: The Odyssey of the IrishBased on the Book of Invasions, Bard takes us beyond written history to the time when the Celts came and claimed Ireland. Told mainly from the point of view of Amergin, the famous bard (hence the title) and the other sons of Millesos, Bard deals with the conquering of the mystical Tuatha Du Danna and the roots of Irish history.
Read a review of Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish.
Lion of Ireland: The Legend of Brian BoruSometimes called the Charlemagne of the Irish, Brian Boru was the only man to rule over a united Ireland. He had the added challenge of doing so at a very pivotal point in Irish history.
Pride of LionsThe aftermath of Lion of Ireland and the story of how Brian's sons try to pick up the pieces after his death. I did not think this book was a good as Bard or Lion of Ireland, but it is still worth reading.
Finn Mac CoolLeader of the famous Fianna Warriors, Finn Mac Cool raised his men from being considered little more than mercenaries to a respected class all their own. The collective adventures of Finn, his son Orsin, and the other Fianna make up the collections of stories known as the Fenian Cycle or Ossian Cycle, which includes the love story of "The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne."
Red BranchBased on the Ulster Cycle, Red Branch deals with two of the most famous myths in Irish culture, the Táin Bó Cúailnge, or The Cattle Raid of Cooley, and Deidrie of the Sorrows. It's main character is Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster and features a fascinating portrayal of the Morrigan, one of the Irish goddesses of battle and death who sometimes appeared in the form of a raven. It is most likely that this aspect of the book was the reason behind it title in the United Kingdom, On Raven's Wings.
Epona: The Horse GoddessMorgan Llywelyn once again takes the reader far back into the oral traditions of Celtic Myths, like Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish, Epona is based solely on myths that were pre date written records. Its title pretty much speaks for itself. It deals with Epona, a young girl who would someday be revered as a goddess by the Celts and the menacing Shapeshifter who would one day be the foundation for the werewolf myths.
DruidsThe book, Druids, tells the story of the Roman-Gallic wars from the Celtic perspective. Told mainly from the point of view of the druid, Ainvar, it details a great deal of Celtic beliefs, customs and above all the ways and rites of the mysterious druids.
GraniaAlthough Elizabeth I is one of my favorite historical figures, the Irish side of me has a hard time reconciling her treatment of Ireland, which was the beginnings of the modern troubles in Ireland. This book takes place in that time period, when the Irish nobility were being driven out so that their lands and control of Ireland could be given to Englishmen and those loyal to the English. Grania or Grace O'Malley was a member of the Irish nobility who refused to give up quietly. She became known as the Pirate Queen as she took to the seas to hit England where it hurt the most, the treasury.
1916 - A Novel of the Irish RebellionGenerations after Grania, the English takeover of Ireland is complete but Irish resistance is far from dead.
I do not think I can fully do this book justice, especially since it has a bit of a emotional attachment to me. I had finished reading only a few months before my grandfather passed away and then gave it him to read just a few weeks before he was diagnosed with the cancer that he died of soon after. For most of illness, he was reading 1916 but he was unable to finish it. Since then I have not been able to go back and reread the book to pick up on all the nuances that I may have missed the first time through (which is usually my custom with books I enjoy).
Failing a review and plot summery written by myself, I will instead refer you to this review.
Morgan Llywelyn's Personal Web Site
The OFFICIAL MORGAN LLYWELYN Web Site
The Celtic Cafe's Morgan Llyweln Page
