A retelling of the Welsh legends about Gwion, a peasant lad who accidentally drank three drops from a witch's brew and was reborn as Taliesin, the great Welsh poet. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.

A magnificent epic of cataclysmic upheaval and heroic love in a breathless age of mythic wonders It was a time of legend, when the last shadows of the mighty Roman conqueror faded from the captured Isle of Britain. While, across a vast sea, bloody war shattered a peace that had flourished for two thousand years in the doomed kingdom of Atlantis. From the award-winning author of THE DRAGON KING TRILOGY comes a majestic tale of breathtaking scope and haunting beauty. It is the remarkable adventure of Charis—the courageous princess from Atlantis who escapes the terrible devastation of her land—and of the fabled seer and druid prince Taliesin, singer at the dawn of the age. A story of an incomparable love that joins two astonishing worlds amid the fires of chaos, and spawns the miracles of Merlin . . . and Arthur the king! TALIESIN “Reminiscent of C. S. Lewis . . . Highly recommended.” —Library Journal

The four stories that make up the Mabinogi, along with three additional tales from the same tradition, form this collection and compose the core of the ancient Welsh mythological cycle. Included are only those stories that have remained unadulterated by the influence of the French Arthurian romances, providing a rare, authentic selection of the finest works in medieval Celtic literature. This landmark edition translated by Patrick K. Ford is a literary achievement of the highest order.

The Testimony of Talieson Jones is a lyrical and acutely perceptive coming-of-age tale about faith, doubt and growing up, from Rhidian Brook, the accalimed author of The Aftermath. Taliesin Jones is a boy on the brink of adulthood, faced for the first time with life's biggest questions. Taliesin's life is falling apart: his mother has run off with her hairdresser, his father's temper is out of control and his brother has been ominously mute for weeks. Even more distressing than Taliesin's dysfunctional family are his classmates' claims that God does not exist. Deeply troubled by life's uncertainty, the boy seeks answers in the unlikely figure of Billy Evans, an old man with an exceptional - possibly even miraculous - talent. The Testimony of Taliesin Jones is an extraordinary novel, exploring the space between childhood and adulthood, between belief and doubt. 'A beautiful meditation on childhood... and a panacea for a cynical age' The Times 'A rare, beautiful evocation of childhood, faith and hope. Extraordinary. I utterly believed it' Victoria Hislop, author of The Island 'Brook's debut is one of quiet miracles . . . in the marvellous way he is able to convince us of the power of faith' Sunday Times 'Poetic' Guardian Rhidian Brook is an award-winning writer of fiction, television drama and film. The Testimony of Taliesin Jones won several prizes, including the Somerset Maugham Award. His short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including the Paris Review, New Statesman and Time Out, and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. He is also a regular contributor to 'Thought For The Day' on the Today programme.

Taliesin, Chief Bard of Britain and Celtic shaman, was a historical figure who lived in Wales during the latter half of the sixth century. His verse is established as a direct precursor to the Arthurian Legends--and Taliesin himself, is said to be the direct forebear to Merlin. The author presents completely new translations of Taliesin's major poems in their entirety, uncovering the meanings behind these great works for the first time.

The Mabinogion is a collection of medieval folktales. First written down in the thirteenth or fourteenth century, the Red Book of Hergest is now housed in the library of Jesus College, Oxford. It was first translated into English by an English woman named Lady Charlotte Guest (1812-1895) and first published in 1849. Margery Hargest Jones endeavoured to translate it into more modern English so that it would be easier to understand while retaining the medieval sense of mystery. The twelve stories deal with medieval themes of magic, enchantment and the 'Otherworld'. It takes place in Wales when Arthur was king before the days of Camelot. The Taliesin adaptation was not written until the sixteenth century, but it is included here because Lady Charlotte included it in her book of The Mabinogion.