John Matthews

Many of us long for an alternative to the commercial industry Christmas has become. This beautifully illustrated, full-color book, brimming with folklore, stories, recipes, games, activities, decorating ideas, songs, and other resources, will help families who are "burned out" on Christmas create alternative celebrations more in keeping with the heartful spirit of the original Winter Solstice festivals.

"...well-researched, rather scholarly book...fanciful illustrations, in both black-and-white and color..."-- Publishers Weekly . "Matthews...offers a very attractively presented collection...wonderfully illustrated...Not since the offerings of Jeremiah Curtin, W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and others at the turn of the century has such a collection been assembled....most were culled from various books and obscure journals that have long been out of print....Each story is followed by a short yet informative note on the tale and its sources, and there is a good bibliography and index. This book would be attractive to younger readers as well as adults interested in Celtic traditions and is recommended for most public and academic libraries."-- Library Journal . "...collection is varied and brilliant...beautiful illustrations are bold and colorful."-- KLIATT .

Discover a complete system of magical work based on the myths of Arthur and his knights. With meditations, rituals, visualizations, and the author's pioneering shamanic techniques, Arthurian Magic leads you on a profound soul journey designed to raise consciousness and offer deep levels of wisdom. The Arthurian legends have long been recognized as a premier source of esoteric insight. From Dr. John Dee to the Order of the Golden Dawn to the more recent fascination with the mysteries of the Grail and the Templars, dozens of magical groups and countless individuals have turned to the myths of Arthur and his Knights for initiation, inspiration, and instruction. This book is a guide for beginners and more experienced practitioners to incorporate the deep spiritual power of the grail stories into their lives.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have captured the world's imagination since medieval times. The tales of King Arthur are rooted in history, but over the years the facts have become shrouded in myth and mystery. In this beautifully illustrated book Arthurian expert John Matthews explores the legends that have grown around the king and uncovers the mysteries of Arthur's Britain. The numerous characters surrounding King Arthur are introduced and the facts behind the epic saga are revealed. •Contains 120 color and black-and-white images •Covers Merlin, Guenevere, Lancelot, the Holy Grail, and all the mythic search for characters

The ultimate a—z of fantastic beings from myth and magic. Discover an incredible world full of every magical creature you could possibly imagine... From unicorns, salamanders, satyrs, giants, elves and trolls, to dragons, nymphs, mermaids, werewolves and griffins — take an enchanting journey through the history, folklore, and mythology of these beasts from virtually every culture in the world. With stories and amazing facts on even the most obscure mythological creature, this is a cornucopia of magic and folklore.

From unicorns and trolls to werewolves and griffins, this comprehensive guide is the key to discovering every magical creature from myth, folklore and legend around the world. This compendium of magical creatures explores the history, folklore and mythology of fascinating beasts throughout all the magical worlds. Including stories, celebrations, traditions, and amazing facts, the book spans every major culture across the globe. Many of the fantastic creatures described in the book have appeared in the fictitious worlds of the Brothers Grimm, Lewis Carroll, J.K. Rowling, Tolkien and countless other writers who have stirred our imaginations since childhood fairytales. From unicorns, giants, fairies, elves, goblins, dwarves and trolls to nymphs, mermaids, sphinxes, ogres, cyclops, dragons, salamanders, basilisks, banshees, werewolves, griffins, centaurs, satyrs and gremlins -- this is the ultimate reference book on creatures from the magical world. Organized from A to Z for easy reference, the cross--cultural focus spans from the most ancient of creatures to those which have come to prominence more recent ly.Discover everything from obscure magical beings to everyday animals that carry magical symbolism. Find out more in The Fantastic World of Magical Creatures.

Foreword by Neil Gaiman The world’s leading Arthurian authority reimagines one of the most beloved and influential legends—the story of King Arthur and his Knights—for a new century in this gorgeous keepsake edition, illustrated with luminous full-color paintings and drawings by internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist John Howe. The stories of King Arthur and Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere, Galahad, Gawain, Tristan and the rest of the Knights of the Roundtable, and the search for the Holy Grail have been beloved for centuries and are the inspiration of many modern fantasy novels, films, and shows. These legends began when an obscure Celtic hero named Arthur stepped on to the stage of history sometime in the sixth century, generating a host of oral tales that would be inscribed some 900 years later by Thomas Malory in his classic Morte D’Arthur ( The Death of Arthur ). The Great Book of King Arthur brings these legends into the modern age, using accessible prose for contemporary readers for the first time. In addition to the stories in Morte D’Arthur, John Matthews includes many tales of Arthur and his knights either unknown to Malory or written in other languages, such as the story of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight; Morien, whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any found in Malory’s work; and a retelling of the life of Round Table favorite Gawain, from his strange birth to his upbringing among the poor to his ascension to the highest position—Emperor of Rome. In addition, there are some of the earliest tales of Arthur, deriving from the tradition of Celtic storytelling. The epic hero is represented in such powerful stories as “The Adventures of Eagle-boy” and “The Coming of Merlin,” which is based on the early medieval text Vita Merlini and tells a completely new version of the great enchanter’s story.  The Great Book of King Arthur includes 15 full-color paintings and 25 pencil drawings.