English Myths is an accessible, entertaining, and highly informative
exploration of the fascinating mythology underlying one of the world's
oldest and most influential cultures.
The mythology and folklore of England is as old as the land itself, rich
in symbolism and full of tales of quests and heroic derring-do, ghosts
and witches, romantic heroines, and noble outlaws. Who hasn't heard of
the master sorcerer Merlin, Robin Hood and his merry men, or the
legendary monster Grendel? Beginning with the great Anglo-Saxon epic
Beowulf, English Myths explores the early legends of post-Roman
England, many of which blend history and fantasy. The book goes on to
examine the rich seam of Arthurian and romantic legends first told in
the medieval era, before looking at English folk heroes and the beasts,
witches, and ghosts that have haunted the land. Discover the brothers
Hengist and Horsa, legendary leaders of the first Angles, Saxons, and
Jutes to settle in England. Learn the tragic story of Cornish hero
Tristan and his love for the Irish princess Iseult. Tremble at the Black
Dog ghost, a nocturnal hellhound found stalking the country from Suffolk
in the east to Devon in the west, and enjoy the tale of George and the
dragon, who saved the nation from a rampaging serpent and became the
country's patron saint.
