Product Description

The Celtic World

is a detailed and comprehensive study of the Celts from the first evidence of them in the archaeological and historical record to the early post-Roman period. The strength of this volume lies in its breadth - it looks at archaeology, language, literature, towns, warfare, rural life, art, religion and myth, trade and industry, political organisations, society and technology. The Celtic World draws together material from all over pagan Celtic Europe and includes contributions from British, European and American scholars. Much of the material is new research which is previously unpublished. The book addresses some important issues - Who were the ancient Celts? Can we speak of them as the first Europeans? In what form does the Celtic identity exist today and how does this relate to the ancient Celts? For anyone interested in the Celts, and for students and academics alike, The Celtic World will be a valuable resource and a fascinating read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #296710 in Books
• Published on: 1995-06-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 839 pages

From Library Journal
Green (Celtic Myths, Univ. of Texas Pr., 1994) brings together an impressive group of European, British, and American scholars to cover the spectrum of Celtic life. The weighty tome provides discussions on language, literature, archaeology, art, economics, religion, and daily life among these ancient people. Each chapter has its own list of references, which, unfortunately, are not compiled into a comprehensive bibliography. That each chapter has a different author is both a strength and a weakness of the work. It can be jarring to move from one writing style to another, but the variety of perspectives and opinions is fascinating. The index (not seen) will be essential to use this work effectively since some subjects receive attention in several chapters. Recommended for all academic libraries and public libraries with interest in this subject.?Pamela A. Grudzien, Central Michigan Univ., Mt. Pleasant
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
This collection is the most erudite of the recent publications [on the Celts] and often makes reference to other studies.
–R. M. Rowlett, University of Missouri

. . . a magnificent collection of articles on the multiple aspects of Celtic culture by prominent specialists . . . This voluminous compendium offers a unique source of data on everything relating to Celtic civilization and should take a place of honor in the library of every interested scholar.
–The Journal of Indo-European Studies

. . . an excellent summary of the current state of Celtic studies. That it does not provide an easy answer to who the Celts were or exactly what elements define their culture--if there was a uniform Celtic culture--is a reflection of the dynamic nature of the evidence and of scholarship.
–Archaeology

The book is a must-have for the serious Celtophile..
–New Age Retailer

This volume [has] a number of very positive features to recommend it.
–American Journal of Archaeology

The Journal of Indo-European Studies
". . . a magnificent collection of articles on the multiple aspects of Celtic culture by prominent specialists . . . This voluminous compendium offers a unique source of data on everything relating to Celtic civilization and should take a place of honor in the library of every interested scholar."

Customer Reviews

Excellent but not for the beginner
Four and a half stars.
A comprehensive work using some many recent archeological discoveries. It is a great work if somewhat pedantic and should have more footnotes than it does. Some readers may be annoyed too that some chapters use second hand sources. And like Kruta's book on the Celts some of the essays are somewhat uneven in their quality. Certain chapters focus too much on arcana while others are down right confusing. It is also uneven in presenting scant information on the Hallstatt period. It is not recommend for those studying Celtic art as it lacks any color photographs. It is not the type of book that one reads through in one sitting. Still it is a great reference work.

A supremely worthwhile resource
The field of Celtic scholarship has made some remarkable advances in recent years, and these articles offer a wonderful glimpse into a realm of information too often confined to the pages of academic journals. The writing is scholarly, but each article often points the way toward other resources on the same topic. I was particularly intrigued by Peter J. Reynolds' account of a typical agricultural year in the Celtic world, based on his experience running a re-created Iron Age farm.

Excellent book on the celtic world
This is a scholarly work,which incorporates cutting edge research from top archeologists in the field. If you want to find out about celtic culture this is the closest you can get without going back in time.