Recent projects in archaeology are also shedding new light on the dwellings, fortresses, and sacred precincts of Celtic speaking peoples in Ireland, Britain, and continental Europe, illuminating many aspects of their daily life, artwork, religion, trade, and the production of household objects and high status items by artisans and metal workers. In addition to numerous classical accounts that discuss Celtic culture and religion, there are other historical accounts and written sources as well, such as the early law texts, the annals, and a superbly rich and vast corpus of medieval Irish and Welsh poetry. The first-that 'shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist'-seems to circumvent the existence of an enormous body of medieval Irish and Welsh literature (not to mention written materials from Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man).

The promotional materials on the inside jacket of the book make several rather surprising claims. The first chapter provides a discussion of classical accounts pertaining to the ancient Celts, their culture, and aspects of their religion (primarily in Gaul and Britain), after which the book begins its presentation of the stories themselves. It comprises several sections, including an introduction, a brief pronunciation guide, a useful glossary for students, some notes on the various chapters, and a short bibliography. Freeman's Celtic Mythology is a basic introduction to some of the tales and legends preserved in Irish and Welsh medieval manuscripts.

Celtic Mythology by Philip Freeman