Original Author: Taliesin (Attributed)
Original Date Written: 6th century (poems), 14th century (manuscript)
Credit: Edited and Transcribed by J. Gwenogvryn Evans
Description
The Book of Taliesin is a medieval Welsh manuscript containing a remarkable corpus of poetry attributed to Taliesin, the semi‑legendary 6th‑century bard whose voice echoes through the mythic and heroic traditions of early Britain. Preserved within the Peniarth Manuscripts, the collection blends praise‑poetry, prophetic verse, battle elegies, and esoteric mythological material, revealing a world where kingship, warfare, and inspiration were bound to the supernatural.
Although the poems span several centuries and were copied by multiple scribes, they form a unified testament to the enduring cultural power of the bardic tradition. Taliesin’s persona — shapeshifter, prophet, poet of princes — became central to Welsh myth and later Arthurian literature, influencing medieval storytellers and modern writers alike.
Today, The Book of Taliesin stands as one of the most important sources for understanding early Welsh poetry, heroic ideology, and the mythic imagination of the Celtic world.
Where to Find This Work
The Book of Taliesin
Editor/Transcriber: J. Gwenogvryn Evans
Summary: This edition is a scholarly facsimile and transcription prepared by J. Gwenogvryn Evans, presenting the medieval manuscript in a combination of photographic plates and carefully edited text. It preserves the original Middle Welsh orthography and layout, making it ideal for researchers, language students, and readers seeking a historically faithful representation of the manuscript.
Publication Date: 1910 (facsimile)
The Book of Taliesin:
Poems of Warfare and Praise in an Enchanted Britain
Translators: Gwyneth Lewis & Rowan Williams
Summary: This modern Penguin Classics edition offers a new English translation by Gwyneth Lewis and Rowan Williams, presenting the poems with contemporary clarity while retaining their mythic resonance. It includes introductions and commentary that situate Taliesin within Welsh literary history and explore the themes of praise, identity, and transformation.
Note: Modern English translation; not a facsimile of the manuscript.
Publication Date: 8 September 2020
Facsimile & Text of the Book of Taliesin: 2
Editor/Transcriber: J. Gwenogvryn Evans
Summary: This Amazon listing is a modern reprint of J. Gwenogvryn Evans’s facsimile and transcription, reproducing the same scholarly edition originally published in the early 20th century. It offers the Middle Welsh text with Evans’s editorial notes, providing a reliable research copy for readers who want access to the manuscript’s content without the original facsimile plates.
Publication Date: Modern reprint of the 1910 edition
Book of Taliesin - Peniarth MS 2 (Original Manuscript Scan)
Credit: National Library of Wales — Peniarth MS 2
Summary: The original medieval manuscript of The Book of Taliesin, preserved as Peniarth MS 2 in the National Library of Wales. Dating to the 14th century, it contains the earliest surviving collection of poetry attributed to the legendary bard Taliesin, including praise poetry, heroic elegies, and mythic transformation verse. As one of the most important sources for early Welsh literature and bardic tradition, this digital manuscript collection allows readers to explore the authentic Middle Welsh text in its historical form through high-quality images of the original pages.
Original Date: 14th century
Book Information:
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