====== First steps ======

Some might like a video to bring the tales alive, others would want to read either in a book or on a website. Yet others prefer to close the eyes and listen. Or perhaps it depends on your mood. Below is a choice list to find what suits you best.

**Videos by Cyb the chuckling monk** offer one of the gentlest and most fun introductions. \\ 
The FREE sample videos have the story for listening, with beautifully chosen photos, artwork, and music. Though beautiful this is not a complete set of [[the Four Branches]], nor is it a close telling from the original. But lots of fun.
www.valleystream.co.uk/products.htm

**Listen to readings by Colin Jones.**
The complete First Branch is FREE on the website with an atmospheric musical background. Or there is the complete set of [[the Four Branches]] download/DVD to buy.  This is the classic [[s:guest|Charlotte Guest]] translation. http://themabinogion.com/album/mabinogion-the-four-branches\\
You can read the original text online; see end of this page.

**If you only want to buy one book in English** you could choose one of two recent classics.\\ 
**[[s:sdavies|Sioned Davies']]** ttranslation: //The Mabinogion// (2007). A handy small sized book with useful notes, and a clear, friendly, storytelling style. This book has all the stories of [[mabinogion|The Mabinogion]] including [[The Mabinogi]].\\ 
**[[s:bollard|John Bollard's]]** translation: //Legend and Landscape of Wales: The Mabinogi// (2006). A gorgeous book in friendly style, packed with magical photographs of the actual sites where the events happened by Anthony Griffiths. The other mediaeval Welsh stories are available in separate volumes.

**For FREE online reading** go to Will Parker’s generous website. www.mabinogi.net/translations.htm\\ 
If you prefer to read on paper you can copy and paste the four (longish) pages. Lots of useful notes if you want to explore further, and based on reputable sources.  Will Parker also has lots of thoughtful articles as intermediate studies.

** Cymraeg / Welsh** try a simplified version //Pedair Cainc y Mabinogi// by Alun Ifans (2003).\\
For the full version //The Mabinogion: Diweddariad// Alun & Rhiannon Ifans, long preface by the esteemed Brynley Roberts (2001).\\
The classic version used as reference by students is 'PKM' //Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi// by Ifor Williams in many editions back to 1930.

**The pioneering publisher and  translator** who made the Mabinogi available to us in the modern world, was [[s:guest|Charlotte Guest]]. Check out her extraordinary life [[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mab/index.htm|here]], and pay a courtesy visit to her book which is freely available online. Lovely Victorian illustrations by [[arts:Samuel Williams]] the foremost engraver of the period.