Coll the Storyteller's Tales of Enchantment
by Lucy Coats
Illustrated by Anthony Lewis
What an accessible introduction to Celtic mythology!
Coll the Storyteller is a young bard on a quest. He must rescue thirteen sacred treasures and discover the resting place of King Arthur. On his journey, he and his companion, the raven Branwen, tell each other stories. And it is these which are the real treasures of this book. There are tales here from the Mabinogion, Irish myths, Arthurian legends, as well as stories from Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man. Some are well known, others less so. All are told in direct and immediate prose, illuminated with flashes of brilliant imagery.
A few of the more brutal or tragic tales have been gently edited. Purists may object, but it ensures that no tale is unsuitable for young listeners. Lewis incorporates photographs of real stones, leaves and textiles to give his black and white cartoons an authentic, almost tactile, feel. Terrific.