The purpose of this collection, which was first published in 1996, is to provide both an overview of the major critical approaches to the Four Branches of the Mabinogi and a selection of the best essays dealing with them. The essays examine the origins of the Mabinogion, comparative analyses, and structural and thematic interpretations. This book is ideal for students of literature and Medieval studies.

Preface;  Introduction;  Part 1: Origins;  1. The Mabinogion and Lady Charlotte Guest Rachel Bromwich  2. The Date of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi T. M. Charles-Edwards;  Part 2: Comparative Analysis;  3. The Calumniated Wife in Medieval Welsh Literature Juliette Wood  4. The Lost Tale of Dylan in the Fourth Branch of The Mabinogi Sarah Larratt Keefer  5. Branwen: A Study of the Celtic Affinities Patrick K. Ford  6. Manawydan fab Llyr: Wales, England, and the "New Man" Andrew Welsh;  Part 3: Structural Interpretations;  7. A Thematic Study of the Tale Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet Sean O Coileain  8. Pwyll Prince of Dyfed: the narrative structure Elizabeth Hanson-Smith  9. The Structure of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi J. K. Bollard  10. Prolegomena to a Reading of the Mabinogi: "Pwyll" and "Manawydan" Patrick K. Ford  11. Narrative Structure in Medieval Welsh Prose Tales R. M. Jones;  Thematic Interpretations;  12. Thematic Structure in the Four Branches of the Mabinogi Jeffrey Gantz  13. The Role of the Myth and Tradition in The Four Branches of the Mabinogi J. K. Bollard  14. The Theme of Sovereignty in Pwyll Catherine A. McKenna  15. Gwydion and Aranrhod: Crossing the Borders of Gender in Math Roberta L. Valente  16. Inheritance and Lordship in Math C. W. Sullivan III;  Works Cited;  About the Contributors