Compiled in Middle Welsh during the 12th and 13th centuries, the Mabinogion is a mesmerising panorama of fantasy, romance, tragedy and humour. Blending Arthurian romance, Welsh legend and mythology, it tells tales of heroic knights, fair maidens, dramatic battles and magical beasts across 12 fantastical stories. These comprise the `Three Welsh Romances¿, Arthurian tales that also appear in the work of Chrétien de Troyes; the myths of Branwen, Pwyll Manawydan and Math; and the five `native tales¿, which include a romance about the Roman emperor Magnus Maximus. It continues to inspire writers today and is said to have influenced Alan Garner¿s The Owl Service and J.R.R. Tolkien¿s The Silmarillion.