30 Bibliography
30.1 In Chapter 1, texts are listed of ten of the eleven
stories in the collection. The eleventh, Gereint, still lacks a separate edition. (see
addendum) You will find it in print in LLyfr Gwyn Rhydderch, ed. J. Gwenogfryn Evans (first printed in 1907, then University of Wales Press 1970 and reprints). This is a complete "diplomatic" edition of the White Book of Rhydderch. To quote its introduction,
"The method followed is that of reproducing the manuscript in all its details: character for character, word for word, space for space, line for line, column for column, and page for page."
30.2 English translations easily available:
- Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones, The Mabinogion (London 1949 in the Everyman series)
- Jeffrey Ganz, The Mabinogion (Penguin Books 1963)
- Patrick K. Ford, The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales (University of California Press 1977) -- This contains the four branches, Lludd, Culhwch, and (outside the main collection) Gwion and Taliesin and Cad Goddeu (The Battle of the Trees).
- Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of 1849 might also be read for its historic importance. This was the work that revealed the "Mabinogion" to literary culture. It was reprinted in the Everyman edition of 1906. Before the advent of popular paperbacks, Everymans were the series of inexpensive classics that dominated the English-speaking world. This edition, still frequently found in used-book shops, was the book that made Welsh literature known in schools and universities.
30.3 For general introduction:
- Sioned Davies, The Four Branches of the Mabinogi (Gomer Press 1993) -- The bibliography to this book is a convenient place for finding some of the major academic articles published in various journals.
- Proinsias Mac Cana, The Mabinogi (University of Wales Press 1977)
- A.O.H. Jarman and Gwilym Rees Hughes, eds., A Guide to Welsh Literature (Swansea 1976) -- chapters 8 and 9
30.4 Books devoted to individual stories include:
- W.J. Gruffydd, Rhiannon. An Inquiry into the First and Third Branches of the Mabinogi (University of Wales Press 1953)
- Proinsias Mac Cana, Branwen Daughter of Llyr (University of Wales Press 1958)
- G. Goetinck, Peredur. A study of Welsh Tradition in the Grail Legends (University of Wales Press 1975)
30.5 Background material:
- Dafydd Jenkins, The Law of Hywel Dda (Gomer Press 1986)
- John Rhys, Celtic Folklore (Oxford University Press 1901, reprinted by Wildwood Press 1980 and 1983)
30.6 For less academic moments, Evangeline Walton has published four "adventure stories from old Welsh mythology dramatically retold" and matching the four branches:
- Prince of Annwn (1974)
- The Children of Llyr (1936)
- The Song of Rhiannon (1972)
- The Island of the Mighty, formerly The Virgin and the Swine (1971)
These are published by Ballantine, New York.
All text copyright © 1996 by Gareth Morgan.
Online layout copyright © 2001 by Daniel Morgan.