Literature: Mabinogion

One of the most important of all Welsh and Arthurian source texts, although it was not compiled until the mid-nineteenth century. The name comes from the Welsh word mabinogi, which means 'instruction for young poets'.

Drawing on two much earlier manuscripts, the White Book of Rhydderch (1300-1325) and the Red Book of Hergest (1375-1425), the Mabinogion is a collection of medieval Welsh myths and folk tales. Strictly speaking the Mabinogion consists of four branches or tales, three of which concern the hero Pryderi. The four stories are those of Pwyll, Branwen, Manawydan fab Llyr and Math fab Mathonwy.

Later editions of the Mabinogion have been extended to include much Arthurian material, although these undoubtedly draw on earlier and entirely relevant material. The extensions include the stories Gereint and Enid, Culhwch and Olwen, Owain, Peredur and the Dream of Rhonabwy. The most famous translation of the Mabinogion, that made by Lady Charlotte Guest, also includes the story of Taliesin.