Book Recommendations

Why We Like It

In the introduction, Peter does an amazing job of showing how the six Celtic nations' mythos is intertwined along with historic context to understand the Celts and their descendants as a people, distinct and unique all at once.

We appreciate his balance by including  six legends from each of the six nations those that are more well known like the Irish and Scottish, to tales from Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, and Brittany.  

Overview

Developed from an early oral storytelling tradition dating back to the dawn of European culture, this is one of the oldest and most vibrant of Europe's mythologies. From all six Celtic cultures - Irish, Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Manx and
Breton - Peter Berresford Ellishas included popular myths and legends, as well as bringing to light exciting new tales
which have been lying in manuscript form, untranslated and unknown to the modern general reader.

The author brings not only his extensive knowledge of source material but also his acclaimed skills of storytelling to produce an original, enthralling and definitive collection of Celtic myths and legends - tales of gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, magical weapons, fabulous beasts, and entities from the ancient Celtic world.

Why We Like It

A beautiful introduction including some Breton history and its cuisine journey.  The book is broken into seven sections, each with its own introduction about Breton culture.

Overview

What could be more evocative of France than the sight, smell and tase of its food, and food is certainly one of the chief glories of this beautiful and varied country. 

This book deals with the province of Brittany, one of the six Celtic nations.  Of all the French regions, Brittany is one of the most fiercely individualistic because of its Celtic roots.  It has its own districtive culture and even its own language. 

Why We Like It

Cohen and Edwards have created a classic cookbook in a fun and experiential setting, inviting readers to imagine living in Cornwall in the 17th century.  The culture of Cornwall is preserved in the food and also in the societal differences of the people's stations.  The book is divided into two sections: the wealthy and the rural poor.  Each section includes an introduction and every recipe has snippets of its part in the culture of the land. 

Every recipe in the cookbook we have tried is delicious!

Overview

Celebrate the magic that is PBS Masterpiece’s hit series Poldark with the unofficial kitchen companion to the award-winning series that everyone is watching. Featuring authentic recipes from Georgian England that have been modernized for the contemporary palate, The Unofficial Poldark Cookbook also includes the history behind the show, references to its characters and events, and tips on how to recreate meals from eighteenth-century Cornwall in the modern day.

Learn to cook and eat like a miner, a ruthless banker, a scullery maid, or an heiress, and recreate the spirit of Poldark with this classic English cookbook in your homely kitchen or dining hall!

Why We Like It

Darina Allen runs a world-renowned cooking school in Ballymaloe, Ireland and founded the first farmer' s market in Ireland.  The introduction itself gives a history lesson on Irish food and heritage and every recipe has a forward on how it shows the culture.  

Overview

Realizing that a whole culinary tradition was in danger of being lost, the author embarked on a labor of salvage and love, to gather over 300 recipes that reflect the way the Irish live, their farming heritage, and their cooking skills.

Darina Allen brings Ireland's rich culinary heritage eloquently to life in this new edition of the bestselling Irish Traditional Cooking.  A land of contrasts, yet still profoundly rural, it has always had a strong tradition of generous hospitality.  Each recipe is complemented by tips, tales, historical insights and common Irish customs, many passed down from one generation to the next, the book is also a celebration of the finest of Ireland's natural produce.

Why We Like It

Leara Rhodes portrayal and the reader's experience  of the Irish culture is impressive.  Her commitment to accuracy, and the research she conducts to ensure it, is inspiring.  Rhodes includes all aspects of culture: music, dance, language, stories, and more.  

Overview

Cahey's love of Ireland had always been his saving grace—but now has become his greatest hindrance. So much has been taken from his family, farm, education, and the love of his life. Still, there’s one thing they can’t take his remarkable ability to understand horses.

Leaving behind his friends and a thriving business in Galway, Cahey embarks on a journey to New York and struggles to find his way. He quickly discovers he is not alone. He bands with other Irish, Scottish, and French immigrants to build a life away from everything he once loved.

Why We Like It

Leara Rhodes portrayal and the reader's experience  of the Irish culture is impressive.  Her commitment to accuracy, and the research she conducts to ensure it, is inspiring.  Rhodes includes all aspects of culture: music, dance, language, stories, and more.  

Overview

Set in the early 20th century, a time when women's roles in society were undergoing monumental changes, a young Irish woman, Sharon McGee, leaves her New York family and friends to embark on a new life in Savannah, Georgia. Her love of numbers landed her an accountant job working for a shipping firm based in County Wexford, Ireland. The job includes lodging in a boarding house with other Irish young women who are nursing students. She quickly discovers that Savannah is a town that nurtures her abilities to create a new life in business and love.

Why We Like It

The first half of the book gives historical context and beautiful black and white photos of a bygone era, putting the food in the context of the lives of the people who lived on the Isle of Man.  In the recipe section, full color pictures accompany each recipe, in some cases, including step-by-step photos.  They also include some Manx, handwritten on the pages, one more layer of the culture and sayings of the people.

Overview

Journey with us on a voyage through the vintage flavors of the Isle of Man.  With it's abundance of bountiful produce, the Island is home to many delicious recipes.  Complete with exquisite  monochrome photography, this volume truly provides the taste and sights of Man.

Why We Like It

It collects twelve of the myths and legends of Wales into one document.   After each story, Lady Guest includes her notes, thoughts, and scholarly essays as it relates to each story.  A person may simply read the stories for a short reading, or delve into the essays - like having a conversation with a person very interested and educated in the subject.  

Don't let the size of the book intimidate.  Use as a reference to dive into, or dip a toe into, the classic Welsh tales.  

Overview

A cornerstone of Welsh folklore, this new edition of the Mabinogion features Lady Charlotte Guest's original English translation of the medieval collection of Arthurian legends and Celtic myths.

Sourced from Lady Guest's 1877 English translation, this new edition of the Mabinogion features twelve tales of heroes, gods, and magical creatures in an exciting odyssey of early medieval literature. It includes the Four Branches of the Mabinogion and some of the first legends of King Arthur in a brilliant treasury of time-honored tales. 

This volume offers a unique glimpse into the rich history of the ancient Welsh text, presenting six essays providing context and insight into the longevity of these enduring tales. Alongside the marvelous Celtic stories are Lady Guest's own notes on the text, as well as extracts and entries from her journals.