I first read "Beltane the Smith" when I was fifteen,53 years ago. I fell in love with it then and, at long intervals, have returned to it from time to time ever since. With the possible exception of the two pirate romances, it is Farnol's best book and is darker and less formulaic than his usual output.It is true that to modern readers the cod-medieval language is trying and much of the dialogue is excruciating, but the plot is interesting, the action sequences exciting and Farnol's descriptions, particularly of the greenwood, very beautiful.