Over the Mountains and the Sea

The principal characters in Celtic folk tales are strong and brave women. Here is a collection of tales from seven Celtic countries about life on the wild western coast where secrets are kept in the rough seas and hills.

This hardback book is beautiful to hold, beautiful to look at and great to share. It delivers fifteen retellings of Celtic legends with stunning illustrations by Elin Manon. Some were familiar to me, particularly the Welsh legends of Rhiannon from the Mabinogi and the tale of the tylwyth teg at Pennard Castle; but I was delighted to discover new stories from further afield including Brittany, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and Galicia – a region to the northwest of Spain.Authors Myrddin ap Dafydd, Angharad Tomos, Mari George, Aneirin Karadog, Haf Llewelyn, Anni Llŷn and Branwen Williams chose the legends and wrote them originally for a Welsh language volume. This English translation is courtesy of Jane Burnard. Even though many of the tales were new to me, there is a pleasing familiarity through conventional motifs such as the powerful sorceress, mermaids and selkies. Recognisable human emotions drive the assured narrative – jealousy, hatred, injustice and betrayal. The tale of Cailleach, a powerful and ancient Scottish deity associated with winter is a warning about the importance of respecting nature and the consequences of defying her will. The Breton legend of Ker Is continues the theme of respecting the untamed wilderness and also has echoes of the Welsh tale of Cantre’r Gwaelod.The strong women of the book’s subtitle are not always heroines; the Queen of Galicia is shrewd and powerful and tries to stop the burial of the Apostle James by the disciples with magic and cunning. Tymyr is possibly the most wicked of mothers-in-law, jealous of the King of Brittany’s wife who has stolen his attention. All the stories convey insights into life, death and love, and reflect the cultural beliefs and values of the Celtic peoples across different places and times.Full colour illustrations on every page, by artist Elin Manon, make this collection very special indeed. Elin’s interpretation of the unspoiled landscapes and wild nature brings atmosphere to the stories; the texture and depth of the colours enrich and enhance the storytelling.These are great stories, well-suited to being read aloud, perfectly designed for sharing in classrooms or at home. The book is ideal for introducing these lesser-known tales, allowing readers to enjoy discovering the connections between the stories of Wales and her Celtic counterparts. -- Simon Fisher @

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