Original Author: Unknown (Various contributors, potentially including Welsh scribes)
Original Date Written: Circa 1382–1410
Scribes / Compilers: Includes Hywel Fychan ap Hywel Goch and other medieval Welsh scribes
Description
The Red Book of Hergest is one of the most important medieval manuscripts in Welsh history, named for its distinctive red leather binding. Compiled in the late 14th to early 15th century, it is an extensive anthology of Welsh prose and poetry, encompassing mythology, folklore, genealogies, medical texts, religious writings, and historical material. As a cultural artefact, it stands as a central witness to the intellectual, linguistic, and literary traditions of medieval Wales.
Among its most renowned contents are the tales later known as The Mabinogion, which preserve mythic narratives of kingship, heroism, enchantment, and the pre‑Christian Celtic worldview. Yet the manuscript reaches far beyond these stories, offering insight into the daily knowledge, spiritual life, and scholarly pursuits of its era.
Originally kept at Hergest Court and later housed in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the Red Book remains a vital link to the medieval Celtic world. Although the manuscript itself has never been fully translated into English, its influence endures through modern scholarship and through Lady Charlotte Guest’s translation of The Mabinogion, which draws directly from this source.
Modern Translation
The tales known as The Mabinogion are translated from this manuscript.
Where to Find This Work
Red Book of Hergest
Scribes / Compilers: Includes Hywel Fychan ap Hywel Goch and other medieval Welsh scribes
Summary: This edition is a complete digital scan of the original Red Book of Hergest manuscript, preserving its medieval Welsh prose, poetry, and historical material exactly as it appears in the physical volume. The facsimile includes every page of the manuscript in high‑resolution image format, allowing readers to view the original handwriting, layout, and folio structure.
It is a faithful archival reproduction of the manuscript itself, made accessible online through the Internet Archive.
Date Written: 1382
Red Book of Hergest (Bodleian Digital Facsimile)
Credit: Jesus College, University of Oxford / Bodleian Libraries
Summary: This edition is a complete high‑resolution digital facsimile of the Red Book of Hergest, preserved as Jesus College MS. 111 at the University of Oxford. It contains 726 digitised folios, photographed at 600 dpi for the Celtic Manuscripts Project in 1997 and later migrated to Digital Bodleian in 2015.
The facsimile presents the manuscript exactly as it survives today, including its original 14th–15th century Welsh text (dated 1382–1425) . Every page can be viewed individually, allowing readers to examine handwriting, layout, and medieval folio structure in detail.
Date: 1382-1425
Book Information:
This book’s availability depends on its publication date, cultural status, and copyright protections. Some works in the Kamboozal Library are in the public domain and can be accessed freely, while others remain restricted or must be purchased through authorised retailers. Kamboozal provides links to trusted sellers and partners, and may earn a small commission through affiliate programs at no extra cost to you. These links help support the ongoing development of the Kamboozal Library and future community resources.
