The Celts: A History (1998)

Author: Peter Berresford Ellis
ISBN: 978-0-7867-1211-3
Genre: History, Celtic
Rating: 7/10

Synopsis: A detailed account of the Celtic Civilization throughout Europe and beyond, from their humble beginnings on the Rhine to their ancient advancements in the arts, sciences, warfare. This book explores one of Europe's most fascinating cultures and why they remain so unknown today.

Review: The Celts: A History is a very good book for someone who doesn't know very much about the Celts and wants an overall understanding of the civilization as a whole. For many centuries Celtic history was misrepresented through Roman records labeling them as uncivilized barbarians, and also through Historians who outright deny that there ever existed a civilization at all; the Author of this book makes a very good point to explain how past Historians are wrong and also why we mustn't rely on Roman accounts because of their biased views on conquered civilizations. The book is short but detailed, and explains many of the facets of Celtic society. Everything from religion, warfare, government, and mythology is covered in the book; the author especially takes into account recent archeological discoveries that have been made to further explain his reasoning and points to the reader. The Author talks about Celtic expansion throughout the known ancient world and about the many influences that they have had on classical civilizations from their influences on Roman warfare to their conquering of Greek city-states and also towards the reign of Celtic kingdoms and cities throughout Eastern Europe, the British Isles, and even as far away as Turkey. Despite having so much information already on the Celts, there is still so much more that has to be written down about them and what we have so far is only a small history that has come from excavations and also from surviving Celtic legends in today's Celtic nations. There are many other books that cover specific aspects of Celtic society such as the their legends and mythologies and the role of woman and men in their history and society, but this book is a good start for anyone interested in the Celts ( )