Product Description

To the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome, the Celtic warrior of the late Iron Age was the archetypal barbarian: savage, undisciplined, and bloodthirsty. In a clash of cultures that lasted almost 500 years, the rich and vibrant society in which he lived, fought, and died was virtually destroyed, becoming the stuff of myth and legend.

Covering the period from the first mention of the Celts by ancient Greek writers to the Roman conquest of Britain, this book examines the Celtic warrior, his society and his place within it, and the conflicts that would eventually destroy his world. Beautifully illustrated with many examples of Celtic art and craftsmanship, this book provides a fascinating insight into a culture whose legacy has endured to the present day.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #438872 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-27
• Released on: 2007-03-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
"The Celtic warrior of the late iron Age was the archtypal barbarian: savage, undisciplined and bloodthirsty beyond belief. In a clash of cultures that lasted almost 500 years, the vibrant society in which he lived, fought and did was virtually destroyed, becoming a myth and legend... This amazing book invites readers to the wonderful journey in the Ancient World." -Neoproprealism (May 2008)

"...published by Osprey is the beautifully illustrated study of the Celtic warrior class... Lords of Battle is an excellent read." -Coastal Defense Journal

"...blend[s] lovely color illustration throughout with a survey rich in Celtic history...covering everything from appearance and dress to arms and rebellions. While its narrowed scope will appeal primarily to specialty holdings and libraries strong in early Celtic history, these collections will find the military focus unique and worthy of acquisition." -The Bookwatch Midwest Book Review

"Thanks to a desire by the 'winning' side to erase all memories and artifacts of the Celts, recent research has turned up a considerable amount of information on these peoples and in particular how they fought. Stephen Allen has put all this into one lavishly illustrated volume... Osprey hardcover books are an outstanding value for the money and you can buy these with confidence that you are getting the best." -Scott Van Aken, mdoelingmadness.com

About the Author
Stephen Allen graduated in 1975 with a degree in French and Spanish from the University of Coventry, and since 1979 has lived in Brussels where he works for an international organisation. With a great passion for history and archaeology, and a particular interest in the European Iron Age, he is a keen amateur archaeologist, regularly taking part in the excavation of Romano-British sites in the south of England. His fascination for the Celts led to the publication of his first book, The Celtic Warrior (Osprey, 2001). Stephen is married and has two children. The author lives in Brussels, Belgium.

Customer Reviews

Excellent starting place
This book is a great starting place for someone who is interested in learning about the Celts and their starting point. The narrative is easy to read and yet still in depth. A lot of the sources quoted in this book are avalible from Amazon. The photographs of the various artifacts are wonderful and both in black-and-white and color.

The only problem that I have with the author is that the book could be a little longer and go even deeper into the subject. But all in all, this is a great book.

Item delivery date still unknown
The item was to be delivered in May, has not arrived, it has been 10 days since email was sent to bookseller and still no response....unless something changes I would not use them again

A Good Introduction to Celtic Civilization
This is a good introduction to Celtic civilization. It is well illustrated with numerous color photos that blend well with the text. The bibliography, although brief is current. It would have benefited if the quotes from ancient authors were noted as to the relevant chapter or book. The book is a bit thin when it comes to the actual history of this wide-spread Celtic peoples and has two glaring errors. The author seems to think that a potlatch is a celtic term (even listing it is his glossary. The sutor also gives an incorrect date for the battle of Zama it was 202 BC, not 146 BC.