Bronwen Martin – Semiotics and Storytelling
This is a really good introduction to the skills needed to analyse the myths and legends. Bronwen has taken the often obscure, jargon filled, texts of semiotics – the science of meaning to craft a very accessible introduction to this important field. She takes the myth of Philomel and then demonstrates the semiotic tools in action in illuminating a text through three levels of interpretation – the figurative, the narrative and the deep mythic. At each level she skilfully illustrates semiotics in action. Bronwen has been a frequent attendee and presenter at the Bard Summer School.
Peter O’Connor – Beyond the Mist
This book is an outline of the meaning of the Irish myths as a wisdom tradition of relevance to us today in contemporary life. Peter stresses that to navigate a path into the labyrinth that is this tradition, it is important to stay anchored in your own ‘ground’. In the case of Peter this is the field of psychoanalysis and archetypal psychology so popularised by Freud, Jung Hillman and Campbell. He argues that ‘psychology needs re-mythologising’ as he goes about his task of mythology being psychoanalysed. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the relevance of mythology to a troubled modernity.
Myles Dillon – The Cycles of the Kings
This is a summary of the literature of the Kings – sometimes called the Historical Cycle. These tales are in no way as well known as those of the Ulster (CúChulain) and Fenian (Finn) Cycles. Maybe it is that a colonised country will tend not to tell King tales. And for this reason this book and the stories very much deserve to be read, enjoyed, absorbed and told in a world wondering about leadership, and the so called elite in culture.
Alwyn and Brinley Rees – Celtic Heritage
Wonderful introduction to Celtic Culture and the Celtic cultural imaginary or world-view. As well as covering the Cycles (Brinley) of the Celtic Tradition and the various thematic types of story (births, adventures, elopements, etc.) the Rees brothers offer an excellent introduction into the world view, or cultural imaginary of the Celtic World drawing on thinking from comparative studies of religion, mythology and anthropology.
Marie Heaney – Over Nine Waves
Very readable introduction to the Irish Myths. Strong on the culturally familiar myths, such as the Ulster, Fenian and Saints. The Mythological Cycle Stories cover the Children of Lir, Voyage of Bran, Tuatha de Dannan. The early Lebor Gabála Book of Invasions stories are missing and the King Cycle Stories.
