Evangeline Walton possessed a remarkable ability to imbue historical and mythological subjects with eloquence, humor, and compassion. Her distinctive approach transformed ancient narratives into stories that resonate deeply with contemporary readers. This skill has cemented her enduring popularity across North America and Europe. Her prose is celebrated for its depth and empathetic portrayal of human experience within grander tales.
From the back cover: Evangeline Walton is the author of Prince of Annwn, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon and The Island of the Mighty - each a branch of the epic Welsh book of mythology, The Mabinogion. The Saturday Review said about her work: "These books are not only the best fantasies of the 20th century, but also great works of fiction. They are actual retellings of the diverse legends of The Mabinogion in novel form...dealing with Good and Evil...and the nature of love."
The Mabinogion is to Welsh mythology what the tales of Zeus, Hera, Apollo and their sibling gods are to Greek myth . . . The magical adventures of Gwydion, the wizard-prince, Prince Pwyll, Arawn, the Lord of Death, the beautiful Rhiannon and the steadfast Branwen have thrilled generations. Evangeline Walton's compelling rendition of these ancient, thrilling stories of magic, betrayal, lost love and bitter retribution were originally published as The Island of the Mighty, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon and The Prince of Annwn. The stories include the encounter between Prince Pwyll and Arawn, the God of Death, which Pwyll survives by agreeing to kill the one man that Death cannot fell, and the tale of Bran the Blessed and his family's epic struggle for the throne. The Mabinogian is universally recognised as the world's finest arc of Celtic mythology; Walton's vivid retelling introduces a world of gods and monsters, heroes, kings and quests, making accessible one of the greatest fantasy sagas of all time.
Der Fabelstoff dieser phantastischen Roman-Tetralogie ist den "Mabinogion" entkommen, einem walisischen Sagenzyklus aus dem 14. Jahrhundert, der einer sehr viel älteren, keltischen Überlieferung entstammt. Der Autorin ist das Unwahrscheinliche gelungen: Ihre Nach- und Neuschöpfung wirkt auf den Leser als die authentische Fassung, als die ursprünglich-lebendige Gestalt dessen, was nur noch in Trümmern vorhanden gewesen ist. Das Ganze: ein gigantisches, farbenreiches, hinreißendes Märchenfresko. Ungeheuerliches wird sichtbar in Bildern von zauberhafter Klarheit.