Tristan and Isolde

The classic medieval tale that brings romance, chivalry and adventure to the modern reader.

Alongside Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf, Tristan and Isolde’s tale of doomed love is a classic medieval story whose themes of love, betrayal, honour and courage have weathered the test of time. Modern movies, theatre and Wagnerian opera productions tell many variations of the Irish maiden who, instructed to marry another, instead falls in love with the Cornish prince tasked to bring her to her betrothed. A love triangle with strong echoes of the Arthurian legend of Queen Guinevere and Lancelot, Tristan and Isolde is heavily linked to many branches of Celtic legend, from Irish lore to the Welsh Mabinogion and, with Tristan taking part in the Quest for the Holy Grail, in the epic tales of Arthur too.

FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

Jake Jackson has written, edited and contributed to over 20 books on mythology and folklore. Related works include studies of Babylonian creation myths, the philosophy of time and William Blake’s use of mythology in his visionary literature.