A Tapestry of Poetic and Religious Scholarship Exploring the Mythological Origins of Poetry
In The White Goddess, Robert Graves delves into the psychological and mythological sources of poetry, creating a masterpiece of poetic and religious scholarship. Graves explores the stories behind the earliest of European deities—the White Goddess of Birth, Love, and Death—who was worshipped under countless titles. He also uncovers the obscure and mysterious power of "pure poetry" and its peculiar and mythic language.
This classic work of literary analysis and religious history examines the origins of poetry through the lens of pagan religions, Celtic mythology, and goddess worship. Graves' influential and sometimes controversial ideas have inspired generations of poets, mythographers, and scholars of folklore. From the secrets of the ancient Irish tree alphabet to the mythopoetic magic of epic poetry, The White Goddess is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the deep connections between mythology, language, and the human psyche.