O. J. Padel was formerly Reader in Cornish and Celtic in the University of Cambridge.

Although the title indicates that this is a book on Arthurian literature, any book on Arthur will have something to interest folklorists. This one, unlike so much which is published on this famous hero, is an excellent survey-cum-study, written with authority and assurance.' Folklore fills a major gap by providing a concise and easily digested introduction to Arthur as he appears in medieval Welsh literatureIf this elegantly written and intelligent guide may be primarily intended for tyros, the freshness and perceptiveness with which the author approaches his subject is also sure to please the old salts.' Gwales.com Few scholars could have undertaken the present work with more success. The volume has the distinction of imposing order on enormously diverse texts, genres, and periods and is additionally controlled by Padel's judgement and fluid prose. It is never an entirely easy task for an expert in any field to change tone and level in order to write a book for non-experts. Padel has done so admirably in a work that is assured, accurate and eminently readable.

• Preface to the new edition Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Earliest Texts 3. Arthur's World: Culhwch and Pa Wr yw'r Porthor? 4. Other Texts of the Central Middle Ages 5. Three Dialogue Poems 6. The Matter of Britain 7. The Continuing Tradition 8. Some Arthurian Characters 9. Was there an Arthur of the Welsh? Select Bibliography

O. J. Padel was formerly Reader in Cornish and Celtic in the University of Cambridge.

Although the title indicates that this is a book on Arthurian literature, any book on Arthur will have something to interest folklorists. This one, unlike so much which is published on this famous hero, is an excellent survey-cum-study, written with authority and assurance.' Folklore fills a major gap by providing a concise and easily digested introduction to Arthur as he appears in medieval Welsh literatureIf this elegantly written and intelligent guide may be primarily intended for tyros, the freshness and perceptiveness with which the author approaches his subject is also sure to please the old salts.' Gwales.com Few scholars could have undertaken the present work with more success. The volume has the distinction of imposing order on enormously diverse texts, genres, and periods and is additionally controlled by Padel's judgement and fluid prose. It is never an entirely easy task for an expert in any field to change tone and level in order to write a book for non-experts. Padel has done so admirably in a work that is assured, accurate and eminently readable.

• Preface to the new edition Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Earliest Texts 3. Arthur's World: Culhwch and Pa Wr yw'r Porthor? 4. Other Texts of the Central Middle Ages 5. Three Dialogue Poems 6. The Matter of Britain 7. The Continuing Tradition 8. Some Arthurian Characters 9. Was there an Arthur of the Welsh? Select Bibliography

O. J. Padel was formerly Reader in Cornish and Celtic in the University of Cambridge.

Although the title indicates that this is a book on Arthurian literature, any book on Arthur will have something to interest folklorists. This one, unlike so much which is published on this famous hero, is an excellent survey-cum-study, written with authority and assurance.' Folklore fills a major gap by providing a concise and easily digested introduction to Arthur as he appears in medieval Welsh literatureIf this elegantly written and intelligent guide may be primarily intended for tyros, the freshness and perceptiveness with which the author approaches his subject is also sure to please the old salts.' Gwales.com Few scholars could have undertaken the present work with more success. The volume has the distinction of imposing order on enormously diverse texts, genres, and periods and is additionally controlled by Padel's judgement and fluid prose. It is never an entirely easy task for an expert in any field to change tone and level in order to write a book for non-experts. Padel has done so admirably in a work that is assured, accurate and eminently readable.

• Preface to the new edition Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Earliest Texts 3. Arthur's World: Culhwch and Pa Wr yw'r Porthor? 4. Other Texts of the Central Middle Ages 5. Three Dialogue Poems 6. The Matter of Britain 7. The Continuing Tradition 8. Some Arthurian Characters 9. Was there an Arthur of the Welsh? Select Bibliography