Imagination and Innovation in Medieval Celtic Literatures

New perspectives on the rich and inventive storytelling of medieval Wales and Ireland.

The literary traditions of medieval Wales and Ireland are among the richest in Europe, spanning heroic sagas, mythic tales, chronicles, saints’ lives, and court poetry. Imagination and Innovation in Medieval Celtic Literatures brings together leading scholars to explore these vibrant traditions, offering unique perspectives on well-known works like The Mabinogion and the Irish sagas while also uncovering lesser-known texts that push the boundaries of medieval storytelling.

Honoring the scholarship of Celtic expert Catherine McKenna, this collection moves beyond the familiar canon to examine the historical significance and evolving interpretations of medieval Celtic literature. Through close readings of individual texts, this volume reveals how Welsh and Irish writers blended imagination with innovation to produce works of lasting cultural impact. Essential reading for scholars and enthusiasts of Celtic studies, this book deepens our understanding of one of medieval Europe’s most dynamic literary traditions.

Helen Fulton is chair and professor of Medieval literature at the University of Bristol. She has published widely on medieval Welsh and English literature and is the coeditor of The Cambridge History of Welsh Literature.

Georgia Henley is an associate professor of English at Saint Anselm College in Manchester in New Hampshire. She is the author of Reimagining the Past in the Borderlands of Medieval England and Wales.