On the Edge of Dream: The Women of Celtic Myth and Legend

Weaving together fragments of ancient epic texts and the richness of the oral tradition, Jennifer Heath brings alive 15 tales from the pre- and early Christian Celtic world, featuring the powerful, wild and wise women of mythology. From the sea goddess Fand to Cerridwen, who can change her shape at will, to the great warrior queen Criedne, the women of Celtic literature are here celebrated for their ingenuity, spirit, physical courage, and deep instinctual natures.

Featuring startling transformations and sweet revenge, bawdy humor and melancholy lyricism, On The Edge of Dream depicts a world where women are freeto choose their own lives and where their struggles -- as timeless as they are human -- have lastingresonance in our lives today. Retold for the modern reader in language that is borth earthy and poetic, these haunting, deeply moving tales exert all the primal pull of great storytelling, awakening memories buried deep within our collective unconscious.

"Playful, spirited, sexy, soulful...Reading these brilliant retellings of Celtic mythology, I felt, 'Now this, finally, is the female legacy that could make a difference in how we as women see ourselves and how we conduct our lives.' A volume every women should read." -- Louise DeSalvo, co-editor Territories of the Voice: Contemporary Short Stories by Irish Women

"This book is something real to celebrate and you don't have to be Celtic to appreciate it...you only need to be human." -- J. Gluckstern, Colorado Daily

"On the Edge of Dream lives up to its title and takes us perilously close to the world of faery. Anyone who loves the old stories will want to read it." Alan Duma, Sunday Camera