English Myths

From King Arthur and the Holy Grail to George and the Dragon

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Pub Date 14 Jul 2022 | Archive Date 20 Jun 2022

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Description

The mythology and folklore of England is as old as the land itself, rich in symbolism and full of tales of quests and heroic daring-do, ghosts and witches, romantic heroines and noble outlaws. Who hasn’t heard of the master sorcerer Merlin, Robin Hood and his merry men, or the legendary monster Grendel? Beginning with the great Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, English Myths explores the early legends of post-Roman England, many of which blend history and myth. The book goes on to examine the rich seam of Arthurian and romantic legends first told in the Medieval era, before looking at English folk heroes and the beasts, witches and ghosts that have haunted the land. Discover the brothers Hengist and Horsa, legendary leaders of the first Angles, Saxons and Jutes to settle in England; learn the tragic story of Cornish hero Tristan and his love for Irish princess Iseult; tremble at the Black Dog ghost, a nocturnal hellhound found stalking the country from Suffolk in the east to Devon in the west; and enjoy the tale of George and the dragon, who saved the nation from a rampaging serpent and became the patron saint of the country. Illustrated with 150 photographs and artworks, English Myths is an accessible, entertaining and highly informative exploration of the fascinating mythology underlying one of the world’s oldest and most influential cultures.

The mythology and folklore of England is as old as the land itself, rich in symbolism and full of tales of quests and heroic daring-do, ghosts and witches, romantic heroines and noble outlaws. Who...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781838861711
PRICE £19.99 (GBP)

Average rating from 25 members


Featured Reviews

An excellent volume that skilfully weaves British history and mythology across the ages in a captivating way, complete with full-colour pictures from real historical sources. In addition to well-known stories like those of Beowulf and Robin Hood, lesser-know tales that form the rich fabric of British folklore, such as the advent of Brutus of Troy, are also discussed. This book will be of great interest to young and old alike, especially those who might have grown up with Henrietta Marshall's Our Island Story and who enjoy the marriage of history, legend and literature and love exploring literary/historical allusions, Certainly a book I will recommend to students as a valuable reference and supplement to their standard humanities curriculum. Thank you NetGalley and Amber Books for this ARC!

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English Myths: From King Arthur and the Holy Grail to George and the Dragon is the thorough volume covering eight major legends from the history of England. The book is full of helpful illustrations, maps, and works of art pertaining to the different myths.

The author explains how most of what is known about the Anglo-Saxons is spotty so scholars and writers alike filled in the gaps with mythology. The introduction gives a brief history and cultural climate of early England as a basis for the birth of these legends.

Overall, anyone who enjoys reading about mythology or legends from different cultures will find this to be an interesting book. It is also a great jumping off point if you are interested in one particular story as a reference. English Myths is well suited to any upper grades or home library.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Amber Books Ltd!

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