Mike Dixon-Kennedy

Robin Hood, whether riding through the glen, robbing the rich to pay the poor or giving the Sheriff of Nottingham his come-uppance, is one of the most captivating and controversial legendary figures. Was there a historical figure behind the legends? Did Robin and his Merry Men rampage through Sherwood Forest? Or did he spend most of his time in Barnsdale Wood in Yorkshire? And is the story of the freedom-loving Saxons refusing to be put under the Norman yoke, as portrayed in the Errol Flynn films, tru? rawing on ballads, poems, proverbs, films, novels, folklore, musicals and place names, Mike Dixon-Kennedy ranges far and wide in his quest to present a complete picture of the exploits of this indestructible hero.

Two of the most fertile types of myth and legend are the Celtic and the Arthurian. For the first time these are brought together in an authortative guide to the people, places, events and traditions associated with Arthur and Ireland, Wales and the Celtic fringe. Based on wide research and reflecting the latest scholarship, A Companion to the Arthurian and Celtic Myths and Legends provides us with a unique reference tool to some of the most colourful stories and traditions in history. From Gidolin to Lancelot, Tir na n-og to Morgan-le-Fay, and Aed Ruadh to Zel, we discover a wealth of material, Lancelot and Guinevere's love story has been retold many times; that Gidolin was a dwarf who was said to keep flasks of hag's blood warm on the 'hearth of hell' is less well-known. Aed Ruadh was a tyrannical king whose own champion inviked the powers of the sea, sun, wind and firmament against him; Zel is a mythical king who is said to have buried on horseback within Silbury Hill. Romance, magic, betrayal, humour and horror are mixed together within the pages of Mike Dixon-Kennedy's intriguing book. It encompasses the Celtic Golden Age, the invasion of the Romans when Celtic society began to collapse, and the later Celtic revival in the Gaelic countries of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and in England. This richly illustrated A-Z guide is a must-have for all those enthralled by Arthurian history and the Celts, mythology and legends.