Ebook: Ystoria Taliesin

Edited with an introduction and notes by Patrick K. Ford. Published on behalf of the Language and Literature Committee of the Board of Celtic Studies.

Taliesin is an important figure in Welsh literary tradition from his reputed origins in the sixth century to the present day. The purpose of this work is to make available an edition of 'The Story of Taliesin', a narrative of central importance to our understanding of the concepts of poet and poetry in Celtic tradition. The present text is the oldest known version to have survived. It is in the hand of Elis Gruffydd and forms but a small episode in his very long 'Chronicle of the Six Ages of the World', compiled during the first half of the sixteenth century. Even so, the story was widespread in oral tradition at that time and Gruffydd makes it clear that he also relied on written versions of the legend.

This edition of the text is accompanied by notes, an introduction, and glossary. The introduction addresses issues of the historicity of this engaging and enduring figure, explores the mythological implications of the events narrated in the tale, and discusses the manuscript tradition of the text.