If you love fairytales and myths, then you'll love J.F. Campbell's The Celtic Dragon Myth. J.F. Campbell of Islay was a Scottish writer and folklorist who spoke eight languages. His proficiency in languages was put to best use in recording Celtic lore and folktales in their original Gaelic. The genesis of The Celtic Dragon Myth came from Campbell's explorations of the Scottish Highlands, where he constantly heard tales of dragons. He also travelled to Japan, Russia, Sweden among other countries, where he heard similar stories.
In the Highlands, Campbell collected some 440 incidents, in 200 different versions, of dragon stories. The belief in sea monsters was still current in Wales, Ireland and Scotland, so Campbell distilled these accounts into The Celtic Dragon Myth as well. This book tells the tale of a Fisherman, his Three Sons, a Mermaid, Giants, Fairies, various sea creatures and more as they battle a mystical dragon. Linguistics junkies are in for a treat, as the story is also presented in Gaelic. There are Gothic drawings accompanying the text and the introduction compares the story to some very similar folk-tales from half a world away.
The beauty of books like The Celtic Dragon Myth is that they were written by authors who were close to the source of the original story, during a time when stories were one of the few sources of entertainment people had. Folktales get lost over the centuries as the old ways die out, and books like this preserve culture and wisdom for future generations. This is a must-have for all readers.
For him the subject had two distinct aspects first, the story is amusing for children; secondly, it has a scientific interest for a large and growing number of scholars. He had heard in London Mr Ralston give his lectures upon Russian stories, and found that the children in the audience were much amused. But amongst the audience were also Thomas Carlyle, Professor Owen, Sir R. Murchison, Reeve, Lady Ashburton, Miss Dempster of Skibo, and a number of learned people who wanted to know the philosophy of the subject. For Mr Campbell thought there was a great deal of philosophy in it, and he states I want readers, wise and foolish, to be equally well treated. The foolish may read the story, the wise may read both story and notes.