Leer The Mythology of the British Islands: An Introduction to Celtic Myth, Legend, Poetry, and Romance online gratis (en inglés)

"The Mythology of the British Islands" by Charles Squire is an introduction to Celtic myth, legend, poetry, and romance written in the early 20th century. The book aims to provide English readers with an accessible understanding of the rich mythical and literary heritage of the Gaelic and British Celts, illuminating key figures and stories that have shaped this ancient mythology. It poses Celtic mythology as an essential counterpart to other well-known mythologies, illuminating how these tales have intertwined with English literary heritage. The opening of the book discusses the significance of Celtic mythology and its impact on English literature by establishing the profound value of early legendary and poetic records. Squire articulates the transition of literary inspiration from Graeco-Roman sources to Celtic roots, suggesting a revival of interest in indigenous mythological traditions. He introduces the notion that Celtic mythology, while less explored in the literary canon, offer

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This book is what its author believes to be the only attempt yet made to
put the English reader into possession, in clear, compact, and what it
is hoped may prove agreeable, form, of the mythical, legendary, and
poetic traditions of the earliest inhabitants of our islands who have
left us written records—the Gaelic and the British Celts. It is true
that admirable translations and paraphrases of much of Gaelic mythical
saga have been recently published, and that Lady Charlotte Guest’s
translation of the Mabinogion has been placed within the reach of the
least wealthy reader. But these books not merely each cover a portion
only of the whole ground, but, in addition, contain little elucidatory
matter. Their characters stand isolated and unexplained; and the details
that would explain them must be sought for with considerable trouble in
the lectures and essays of scholars to learned societies. The reader to
whom this literature is entirely new is introduced, as it were, to
numerous people of whose antecedents he knows nothing; and the effect is
often disconcerting enough to make him lay down the volume in despair.

But here he will at last make the formal acquaintance of all the chief
characters of Celtic myth: of the Gaelic gods and the giants against
whom they struggled; of the “Champions of the Red Branch” of Ulster,
heroes of a martial epopee almost worthy to be placed beside “the tale
of Troy divine”; and of Finn and his Fenians. He will meet also with the
divine and heroic personages of the ancient Britons: with their earliest
gods, kin to the members of the Gaelic Pantheon; as well as with Arthur
and his Knights, whom he will recognize as no mortal champions, but
belonging to the same mythic company. Of all these mighty figures the
histories will be briefly recorded,

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