Can anybody recommend good historical novels featuring the Celts? I've read a little bit about their origins and culture recently and that's piqued my curiosity to sample some fiction as well. I'm not looking for any specific setting, as long as it features the Celtic people.
I checked out Ali Isaac's novels and while they do seem interesting, they lean towards fantasy and I was looking for something non-speculative. I did manage to find one or two non-speculative, historical novels but I can't remember where I noted the authors/titles down. Will post them next time. Thanks for the recommendation though, I've made a note of Ali Isaac for when I might some some fantasy with Celtic fiction.
@Alicia, I finally got some of the Celtic, historical fiction novels that I had noted down earlier. They are Pauline Gedge's The Eagle and the Raven, Morgan Llywelyn's Druids and Norman Spinrad's The Druid King. Have you ever read any of these? Of these, I'll be starting with Pauline Gedge's work on Boudicca first.
@Boreas, did you finally read any of the three books? If so, what did you make of them? I have checked them and except for Spinrad’s The Druid King, they are out of print. I guess I could find them second hand if you recommend them. What about Ali Isaac? it seems to me a bit geared towards YA readers...
Unfortunately, no. My reading has been on a low ebb this whole year. I'll definitely let you know when I start on them and how I find them. Although, I feel quite confident that I will like all three.
I'll just call out Peadar O'Guilin's The Call (ha! see what I did there...?) It is fantasy but it deals well with the Sidhe legends.
I know this is a late reply to this thread but my advice would be to go one of the sources; Sioned (pronounced shon-ed) Davies's translation of Y Pedair Cainc y Mabinogi - The Mabinogion (Oxford World Classics) is a brilliant place to start. This translation is vivid and modern yet faithful to the spirit of the ancient work. I could go on... better I leave potential readers to look for themselves.
Thanks! I had noted down The Mabinogion when I was initially looking into Celtic literature, but had decided to go for more contemporary fiction first. I definitely do intend to read this, though.