Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales

Description

This beautifully illustrated hardcover presents 16 traditional fairy tales from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales. Sourced from late 19th and early 20th century collections, these stories are full of wit, adventure, and the magic of ancient Celtic lore. Each tale is paired with a full-page, 2-color illustration by artist Kate Forrester, whose work mimics the style of papercutting. With a die-cut cover and ribbon marker, this special edition is gifty, fresh, and sophisticated.

Kate Forrester is an illustrator based in Brighton, England. www.kateforrester.co.uk

"Divided into four categories-'Tricksters, ' 'The Sea, ' 'Quests, ' and 'Romance'-the 16 tales that make up this handsomely designed collection are adapted from sources originally published between 1888 and 1929, now in the public domain. Full-page silhouette-style images from British illustrator Forrester open each tale, framed within intricate borders featuring fish, gravestones, dragons, and other thematic imagery entwined with Celtic knots. Witches, selkies, fairies, and other creatures make appearances in the brisk tales, which tend toward light humor and happy resolutions. It's an absorbing introduction to the lore of Albion, but readers will also enjoy teasing out similarities between these tales and more familiar ones-the Scottish tale of 'The Black Bull of Norroway' carries echoes of 'Beauty and the Beast, ' while a clumsy girl named Ursula features in the Rumpelstiltskin-like story that opens the collection." -Publishers Weekly