Celtic Books

Although the title doesn't mention Victorian, most of these designs originate in that era. They have influences other than the typical complex Victorian fonts. But they can be effectively be used with fonts from the other Dover title "Victorian Display Fonts". Well drawn, Mac and Windows, Postscript and Truetype...and what a GREAT price!

Weirdly, these fonts are all Gothic (actually blackletter), whereas the Gothic book in this series contains some Celtic (uncial) fonts. I think that the books were probably produced at the same time and mislabeled. Nevertheless, both are well worth buying.

The fonts included in this book will surely make a nice addition to your type library. Dan Solo had a huge collection of great old and new type faces. You'll find 24 of them here. Some, you might already have, and some are so nice that I believe if you find one gem here, it makes the price worthwhile. The fonts are in both Windows True Type and Macintosh formats. The pages have the complete alphabets and a character chart. Be sure to notice the "extra characters" that are offered in some fonts.

This is an excellent collection of 24 fonts, with printed examples and indices of the special characters for Macintosh (access to Windows special characters is described in the ReadMe file). They represent a fine collection of Baroque and Gothic lettering, but very little of the material could really be called truly Celtic. Any church could spice up its documents for special occasions with this collection. The `sz' of German formal text appears in a variety of forms. Also present are many other accented letters used in various European languages but not always included in more current fonts. Try it! Use it! There is creative material here!

This book is Magical!!! I love how I feel after coloring the Celtic Mandalas. It is easy, fun and the best way to start or end your day. A much needed tool to bring peace into your life. Thank you Ms. Normand!

This 30-Minute Celtic Mandala Coloring Book has the coolest Celtic designs. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to meditate in a creative way. I LOVED the author's other 30-Minute Mandala Coloring Book, but this one is my absolute favorite! Keep them coming!!!!

In this book, 30-Minute Celtic Mandalas Coloring Book, Ms. Normand has done a great job of combining the traditional Mandala with Celtic spirals and knots. Not only am I enjoying coloring the designs, but I have found a new interest in researching the symbols contained in the drawings30-Minute Celtic Mandalas Coloring Book: Easy Meditation through Coloring30-Minute Mandalas Coloring Book: Active Meditation for the Mind and Body OR Easy Meditation through Coloring

I have to admit that I initially got this book for my inner child. It sounded like a lot of fun. I was really looking forward to the experience.

When I received the book, I started to get a little nervous. Secretly, I was really eager to let my inner child free. However, I didn't really didn't want anyone to see me coloring. I keep hearing my mother's voice in my head, "cows are purple, color within the lines."

For once, the child won out. For the first five minutes, I was in "reviewer" mode, basically dictating in my head what I'd write in this review. Then, my thinking mind stopped and I just fully immersed myself in the process. I even stopped planning which color would be next.

This is a pretty simple but amazing idea. There's no pressure or forcing the mediation, it just happens. I even tried this method while I was in the midst of a meltdown and I found myself calming down within about ten minutes.

Throughout time the Holy Spirit has worked through individuals to bring humanity closer to the divine. Sometimes this work manifests itself in an individual who is capable of doing great things with the blessings that were given them. Rev. O'Donohue is such a man, and yes he is still a priest. Once a priest always a priest. This like all others works John has done provide simple advice on how to build ones understanding of life, self, and the divine. John's approach to teaching is a `Celtic' approach as old as the stones that make up the many walled fields of Ireland. Many listeners will not be used to the rhythms of Celtic life, and thus they will find John's respectful approach to a subject boring. We saw this fact manifest in the previous reviewers comments. The Celtic approach to life is never direct, and always mindful. It is this first lesson that John teaches the listener without ever addressing it directly that is the most important lesson to learn. This is the lesson of mindful patience. Without this basic life skill we can never progress in our relationship with the divine. Once we have learned this lesson, and listen again to John's lecture we will then be able to understand what he is addressing in his lectures. The real blessing is that each book, or more especially taped lecture has layered teachings. These teachings are revealed only through rereading, or listening to his lecture. This type of teaching, and systematic unveiling of teachings is the heart and Soul of the Celtic approach to teaching anything. So in conclusion, if you are looking to hear, and learn the subject material from a true modern day Christian Bard then John's works are for you. If you are looking for a quick secret to life answers in a book in the form of a milk carton advertisement then perhaps a quick read of one of the many Celtic Spiritual web pages is the ticket for you. As for me, I hope you take the time to sit (metaphorically speaking) at the feet of one of the last Cludee's left in the world.

I could listen to John O'Donohue's voice all day and in fact, take these tapes in the car and so sometimes do. He is not only an incredible scholar, but has a way of expressing and condensing this clear wisdom through simple stories and ancedotes. His ideas and thoughts are delivered with tenderness and compassion. He is one of the most natural and warm speakers I've ever had the privilege to listen to.

O'Donohue is wonderful! The subject matter is not only relevant on a day-to-day basis, but also helps one understand their past and the "inner workings" of other people. His explanation and treatment of death is both informative and helpful for those of us who have lost someone we love dearly.

Spoken audio tapes need to be evaluated not only on the merits of the content, but also the quality of the production -- including the "listenability" of the speaker's voice. Fortunately, this collection of meditative reflections on Celtic spirituality by Irish priest John O'Donohue boasts not only sublimie content, but an aurally pleasing experience as well. O'Donohue's voice is easy for Americans to understand, but filled with enough of an Irish accent to evoke the windswept shores of the Emerald Isle in every word he speaks. He speaks slowly, carefully enunciating each word, which contributes to the meditative aura this recording evokes. And of course, what he is saying is as important as how he says it: and what he talks about is the distinctive and vital living tradition of Celtic wisdom, from seeing the human being as "sculpted of clay" to celebrating the inner landscape of the imagination, to seamlessly weaving Christian and Pagan stories and principles together in a way that ultimately breaks down the barriers of religion to leave only the breathtaking unity of deep mysticism. Finally, O'Donohue's insistence on the role of friendship and relationship in the spiritual life -- as embodied in the Gaelic tradition of the anam cara, or soul friend -- makes this truly a relevant treasury of spiritual insight.

Christopher Bruce's encyclopaedic work is a magnificent compendium of all of the major 6th to 19th century Arthurian sources.

As a publisher of books and games based on the original Arthurian sources, I have turned to this book not as my 'Bible', but as a sort of 'Bible Concordance'. Which stories can I find Percival (or his many alternative names) occurring in?

I found this book to be worth ten, if not a hundred times its cover price in terms of compiling years of research into a single treasury of Arthurian knowledge.

I was amazed to discover how young this first time author is. He has produced a profoundly complete and thoroughly researched scholarly work that is a "must read" for any student of the Aurthurian Legends. Mr. Bruce has researched even the most obscure references and stories of Arthur and the other characters associated with the legend. Thank you for your excellent work.

Mr. Bruce has certainly done a wonderful job compiling volumes of information into one comprehensive work. It would be difficult to find a more complete reference. A must-have guide for any Arthurian-lover's library, as well as an interesting book for any reader to peruse.

As an avid Arthurian reader, I am amazed at the completeness of this wonderful reference. Nowhere have I ever seen such a valid and thorough resource. My son has loaned me his copy but I am looking forward to adding one of my own to my library. It is hard to believe that anyone could compile such a great volume so masterfully! Bravo, Mr. Bruce!

It is 5 BC. Terentius is a Celt living in Tarsus in Cilicia. A bard at heart, yet lacking the poetic talent to be so named, Terentius made his living as a musician. His life was rather uncomplicated, quiet, and lonely. He made beautiful music on his harp. Sometimes people listened and even gave him a few coins for his efforts.

Destiny it would seem had other plans for Terentius. A Jew by the name of Matthias came to the musician one day asking for lute lessons. Terentius agreed to do so as he secretly hoped that the man would teach him the psalms, beautiful and powerful works.

Another important chance meeting was also in store for Terentius. A Celtic woman by the name of Bridicia. Bridicia was a fish peddler in Tarsus. Soon, she was also mate to Terentius.

Unfortunately, this joy was not meant to last. Terentius soon found himself on the wrong side of a powerful Druid Corvus. Corvus had cursed Bridicia to be barren when she refused his affections. This situation only got worse when Corvus murdered Matthias, thinking that his victim is Terentius.

The Bard of Bethlehem is a fresh look at the political and cultural environment in the days just before the birth of Christ. The interactions are quite true to life without any sort of sugar coating or modifications to appease modern political correctness. Well written.

Trapp's novel takes you back to 5 B.C. where the Celts, Jews, and Greeks all live under Roman rule by Julius Caesar. This is a time of political turmoil, where Maximus, the Governor of Cilicia, is asked to step down because he hasn't been performing his duties, due to what is called "the black melancholy." Maximus lost his wife and could be in the throes of depression, because after being relieved of his governing duties he attempts suicide.

The Druids, even in placid times, had to hide their practices, but one Druid stands out, Corvus, who states that the Britons trained him although he now lives in Tarsus. Corvus buys and sells various items: linen, cotton, and herbs. He is wise in the way of Celts, but is an angry, vengeful man who cursed a young Celtic woman who would not sleep with him during the feast of Samhain, the Celtic New Year. Even though Caesar executed Druids and outlawed their beliefs, Corvus and others still practice the old ways.

The young cursed beauty, Bridicia, who is a fish peddler, meets the harpist Terentius. He immediately falls in love with her. She refuses his offer of marriage since she cannot bear children. Terentius, who, though Celtic, maneuvers through the Jewish, Greek and predominately Roman parts of town without impunity, loves her and doesn't care that she is barren.

The storyline is woven tightly around political scandals, Caesar's mandatory census and taxation of all males, while Bridicia and Terentius's relationship blooms along with a star that is seen in the heavens. The star amazes everyone of all races and religions, "What could it mean as it fails to weaken or disappear but only increases in size and strength?"

The book keeps you spell-bound with the interweaving of numerous plot lines. A great historical novel with the flair of fiction and nonfiction combined. Highly recommended, but Trapp isn't true to the language of the period and uses some words that weren't in existence until the Middle Ages.

Armchair Interviews says: The Bard of Bethlehem gives new meaning to old legends and the co-habitation of many cultures in the Holy Land.

Welcome to the twenty-second year of the reign of Caesar Augustus or 5 B.C.! The Roman world is at the height of its power and corruption at a time when men of all nationalities hope for a better world. The Romans may control half the world but numerous plots and intrigues threaten their power; Greeks, Celts, and Jews proudly cling to their cultural roots while they serve as slaves and servants to their domineering overlords.

Terentius and Bridicia are the main characters, a bard and fish peddler, whose love endures through multiple perils in this riveting, intriguing novel. "Someone betrayed me," becomes the catch-all phrase for them as well as for the a Druid who has set a debilitating curse on Bridicia; for the young Jewish musician threatened because of jealousy and prejudice; and for the governor who has reached the pinnacle of success but whose every action now seems to create more and more enemies.

In the midst of it all, a wondrous star appears that is brighter than all other stars and which carries a mystical aura touching every observer and laying bare the obvious and hidden motives behind every actor and actress. "What could it mean as it fails to weaken or disappear but only increases in size and strength?"

Join Terentius and Bridicia as they elude the looming disasters threatening them in Tarsus in Cilicia and then as they travel to the land below where the star shines and they meet the characters whose destiny will be forever connected to that initial heavenly appearance!

David James Trapp's writing has evolved gracefully and powerfully since his last novel, Dog Days in Bedlam. The Bard of Bethlehem is a novel you will love and remember forever as the work of a master storyteller capable of fully and accurately portraying the known and unknown players of ancient sacred and secular history!!! Wonderful!!!!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 12, 2007

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (12/06)

This remarkable story begins in the city of Tarsus in a period of political chaos. It is the story of two young Celts. The book is rich in Celtic background, customs, and Druid folklore. Young Terentius, a harpist, and Bridicia, his bride, are threatened by a Druid's curse and are caught in a web of political corruption. Trapp exhibits great scope and depth in his understanding of the political upheaval in the year 5 B.C.

David James Trapp is a master story teller. He draws the reader back in time, two thousand years, to a time when the Celts, Jews, Romans, and Greeks, were all deeply affected by the appearance of a mysterious new star.

Terentius played music to the star. "...the melody he created was fantastic, complex, impossible to describe...Tenentius always kept is eyes on the mystery star. Such a brilliant sign! He knew beyond any doubt now that all those Druids were wrong to fear this star."

Tenentius, Bridicia, and their Egyptian slave girl fled Tarsus hoping to find safety in Judea. They were pursued by Corvus, a self proclaimed Druid leader seeking revenge.

David James Trapp has the uncanny ability to make you feel you are walking along side his characters. I felt the anguish of Terentius after his release from custody. "Every step was hard. His limbs ached from the bruises, and breathing was difficult...sharp pains pounded through his skull...with every step he scanned the streets looking for his beloved Bridicia."

This is fast paced historical fiction at its best. David has the inherent ability to keep the reader involved in an intricate plot with unexpected twists, and attention-grabbing sub plots. "The Bard of Bethlehem" is an excellent read, noteworthy, and absorbing.

The book came quickly and was as represented. The book was in good shape and is being much enjoyed for information and reference

The Britons by Christopher A. Snyder (Associate Professor of European history and Chair of the department of History and Politics, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia) is a fascinating and scholarly historical text about the culture of the Britons, spanning the late Iron Age down to the late Middle Ages. From the influence of Roman rule, to the impact of Christianity, the legend of King Arthur, a sober account of Viking and Norman invasions, and so much more, The Britons is an informed and informative study which is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and academic History collections.

Do you have ancestry from Brittany, Wales, Scotland or England? You might like this informative, well-documented, comfortably-paced book. Even if you are well-versed in the history of these lands, this book gives many insights into how people lived and into the power struggles among early kingdoms (Cornwall, Strathclyde, Dyfed, Wessex, Northumbria ...you name it.) Having ancestry from SW-Scotland, for example, I was not dissappointed in the amount of material devoted to the Strathclyde Britons, including some facts I had not known. Who are the Britons? This book helps you understand what that question means historically, and in present-day context. A first-rate book, I suggest it be read by anyone who has an interest, including those involved in Celtic studies of all kinds.

This is a complete history of the Britons, which I have been looking for a long time.

Well worth ordering! The Celtic knot work is intricate, with an occasional surprise detail tucked into a corner. Very authentic-looking, with it's maze-like elements and fantastical creatures!

This book became an immediate favorite!

this is a wonderful book which will keep you buy for a very long time.

The publisher allows you to use up to 4 images in a publication.

Way cool coloring book for older children & adults. Celtic design animals are hardly found in nature, but in the realm of the imagination they are wonders to behold. Celtic Animals Coloring Book is part of the useful Dover Pictorial Archive series, which means you can use these line drawings in your crafts or scan them & post them to your web pages.

Bob Rixon

amazing quality images & defintions of symbols
I would recommend this to anyone who loves celtic!

This is the third year that I have ordered this calendar. The art work is beautiful and the description of each months design is very interesting. The calendar is in twelve month format with decent sized blocks for each day so that I can write in all the chores that need doing.

Truly beautiful work. I am hooked and will continue to buy this as long as I can find it!

This has everything from Yule to the Dali Lama's birthday. IT has something for everyone and the pictures teach of the Celtic folklore. IT 's just a beautiful piece of time keeping

This is a terrific and pretty comprehensive collection of Celtic poetry and prose. Everything is nicely indexed according to what style of writing it is, and what the subject is, in the table of contents. Under each poem or whathaveyou is a description of where the work comes from, when it dates from, and who (if it is known) wrote the work.

You'll find Welsh, Breton, Cornish, Scots-Gaelic, and Irish works of art here. I know I've often been dissapointed before to buy a book on "Celtic" poetry to find out it was only on Irish works.

To top it all off there is a huge list of end-notes. These explain all those obscure references you'll find in old poetry. Don't know where Aberffraw is, but its in your favorite poem? Flip to the back and find out.

I'm very pleased with this book. I can use it for my classes, simply by looking up a topic and browsing over the many selected works. And I also read it for pleasure, I find the section on humorous works especially enjoyable.

Despite the recent 'boom' in Celtic literature, there are not that many anthologies around, which present the whole palette, as it were, of the Celtic mind, feeling and imagination. In this respect, Kenneth Jackson's anthology remains one of the best. When he died in 1991, his obituary notice in The Times declared him 'a master of all four of the major Celtic languages' - an accolade not many could claim. In fact, the material here has been drawn from six Celtic sources - Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish and Manx (the variety of Celtic spoken in the Isle of Mann).

Hence, this anthology enables you to savour the taste of Celtic literature, from an unusual number of sources. While all translations have their limitations, Jackson had an uncanny way of reproducing the alliteration and feel of Celtic. In this book, we find Hero tales, epics, reflections on nature, love, delightful epigrams, Celtic magic poems, descriptive sketches,humour & satire, Bardic Poetry, Elegies, religious reflections etc. - a rich collage indeed.

The main text comprises 305 pages, but reading it is more akin to perusing a Celtic library, for that is effectively what Jackson had to do, to procure this rich diversity of sources. The text includes a map of Ireland and Wales, in case you want to locate places mentioned in the text. Extensive notes have been appended to the text - with a pronouncing index. Not everyone will want to get their tongue round that, but the beauty of this text is that you can dip into the material without worrying unduly about such matters, savouring the imagery for its own sake.

It is hard task to select passages for review, for the whole book deserves to be savoured. I may prejudice the reader's mind with my choices. Epics are too long to quote, but you'll hear of Cu Chulainn and all the rest. At random, how about this from the section titled 'Nature':

(34) To the Sun

Greeting to you, sun of the seasons, as you travel
the skies on high, with your strong steps on the
wing of the heights; you are the happy mother
of the stars.

You sink down in the perilous ocean without harm
and without hurt, you rise up on the quiet wave
like a young queen in flower.

Scottish Gaelic; traditional folk prayer.

- or how about these beautiful lines, from the end of
'The Wish of Manchan of Liath' (Religion. 223.)

" This the housekeeping I would undertake, I would
choose it without concealing; fragrant fresh leeks,
hens, speckled salmon, bees. "


How about this sweet epigram (93) 'Her Light Step'

"There's my darling merry star, flower of the
parish of Llangeinwen; beneath her foot the
grass no more bends than does a rock beneath
a bird's foot."
Welsh. Traditional verse.


Another charming epigram (84, The Snowfall).

White flour, earth flesh, a cold fleece on
the mountain, small snow of the chill black day;
snow like platter, bitter cold plumage,
a softness sent to entrammel me. "

- Welsh englynion.

Here's a snippet of Irish 'Zen.'
A Vain Pilgrimage

" Coming to Rome, much labour and little profit!
The King whom you seek here, unless you bring
Him with you - you will not find him. "

Irish;author unknown; 9th c.

The strange mixture of pity, humility and assertiveness in the following, is peculiarly Celtic.

244. A Charm with Yarrow.


" I will pick the smooth yarrow that my figure may be more elegant, that my lips may be warmer, that my voice may be more cheerful;may my voice be like a sunbeam, may my lips be like the juice of the strawberries.

May I be an island in the sea, may I be a hill on the land, may I be a star when the moon wanes, may I be a staff to the weak one: I shall wound every man, no man shall wound me. "

Scottish Gaelic; traditional folk charm.

Yarrow, a delicate wild flower, long used in Celtic herbal lore and suchlike, grows all over Britain. Like the Japanese Yamato nadeshiko, Yarrow symbolises and invokes ideal qualities of femininity. Yet it is a resilient and tough little plant. Reading this verse, I have always imagined a young woman, tender enough to go through life without betraying the better qualities of womanhood, yet apprehensive that she may be abused. So, along with her wish to be - and remain charming, she also nurtures her sense of cosmic attunement and the strength of the feminine in nature, the power of yielding, happy to be a star when the moon wanes, and a staff to the weak. The closing line - 'I shall wound every man, no man shall wound me' - looks callous, even violent, but really, it conveys nothing more than the wish to remain lucky in love, that the 'charm' with the yarrow should work, not leaving the young woman hurt. It is quite likely that the original form of the verse comprised the first four lines - and the closing line. The additional components soften it, making it less predatory.

Just for its own sake, I've included:

The Harp of Cnoc I Chosgair

"Harp of Cnoc I Chosggair, you who bring sleep to eyes long sleepless;sweet, subtle, plangent, glad, cooling, grave. "

" Excellent instrument with the smooth gentle curve, trilling under red fingers, musician that has charmed us, red, lion-like, of full melody. "

" You who lure the bird from the flock, you who refresh the mind, brown spotted one of sweet words, ardent, wondrous, passionate. "

" You who heal every wounded warrior, joy and allurement to women, familiar guide over the dark blue water, mystic, sweet sounding music. "

"You who silence every instrument of music, yourself a pleasing plaintive every instrument of music, dweller among the Race of Conn, instrument yellow-brown and firm. "

" The one darling of sages,restless, smooth, of sweet tune, crimson star above the fairy hills, breast jewel of High Kings."

"Sweet tender flowers, brown harp of Diarmaid, shape not unloved by host, voice of the cuckoos in May! "

"I have not heard of music such as your frame makes since the time of the fairy people, fair brown many coloured bough, gentle, powerful, glorious."

" Sound of the calm wave on the beach, pure shadowing tree of true music, carousals are drunk in your company, voice of the swan over shining streams. "

"Cryof the fairy women from the Fairy Hill of Ler, no melody can match you, every house is sweet stringed through your guidance, you the pinnacle of harp music. . ."

Irish. Gofraidh Fionn O Dalaigh; c. 1385

At the risk of butchering things, I've thrown in these random extracts from verse found under 'religion.'

232. The Tree of Life

"Lovely is the flock of birds which keeps it, on every bright and goodly bird a hundred feathers; and without sin, with pure brilliance, they sing a hundred tunes for every feather. "

243. A Prayer to the Virgin

"The Virgin of ringlets most excellent, Jesus more surpassing white than snow, melodious Seraphs singing Their praise, and the King of the Universe saying it was fitting. "

"The Virgin most excellent of face, Jesus more surpassing white than snow, She like the moon rising over the hills, He like the sun on the peaks of the mountains. "

All in all, there is something very satisfying about this book. Something about its 'feeling tone' lingers and sticks to you, like incense. I've dipped into it for twenty years, on and off, and always recall the story of the Christian hermit on a tiny island, shedding tears of joy for catching a fish. Its hard to feel like that in a supermarket.

This has been one of my two or three very favorite books since it came out. I read from it almost every day. I think that anyone interested in poetry or literature or just in the human spirit should have it by their sides. It is a wonderful selection, beautifully translated. It brings out the two things I like best about Celtic literature: the intense, immediate sensitivity to nature, and the extreme importance given to individual men and women (as opposed to the great big abstractions, symbols, word games, etc., in so much of literature). The Celts seem to have remembered, more often than most people, that individual human beings matter.

I've had this book for over ten years and find new things to appreciate that I'd skipped over in the past. I've used some of the shorter poems and englyn for caligraphy and needlework, and on my website. I also feel that to understand a people, it is necessary to read the literature, and this book offers a good selection.

This book is a scholarly account of the history and culture of the Celts, from the earliest archeological evidence in the iron-age Hallstatt culture circa 800 BCE, To the Norman invasion of Britain under William the Conqueror in 1066. The authors discuss the mysterious origins of the Celts using place-names as a guiding demographic to trace their principle routes of migration and their established settlements. The book then goes on further to discuss the formation, structure and the bodies of independent Celtic kingdoms, of Gaul, Britain, Wales, Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Of particular interest is the changing and reforming political and social change which occurred in Britain following the withdrawal of Roman governance C. 4-500 CE. The fifth chapter on Irish secular institutions gives an interesting account of a Gaelic society, its inherited laws, the class based structure, customs and dress, festivals, and the organization of time. All of this is done in comparison with the Welsh system, but interestingly draws many parallels with Indo-European culture, particularly the Vedic and Hindu codes of law.

The 6th chapter outlines the structure and organization of the early modern Celtic kingdoms, providing information on the Pictish tribes and the Dal Riata, Irish incursions and influence in Scotland, the development of the Celtic Welsh and their relations with the Saxons, and overall the influence of the Viking and Nordic raids and settlements throughout the Western Gaelic communities. This period history spans from the 5-6th CE to the late 9th, leading up to the invasion of the Normans at Hastings in 1066. The remaining chapters examine Celtic culture from the perspective of literature, myths, language, religion and art.

I chose this book because I wanted a broad but academic and scholarly account of Celtic history, its formation, structure, people and culture. This volume fulfills all of those criteria, but it was certainly not a `casual' read, indeed it took me several weeks to digest and may properly be used as a reference and source of information rather than leisurely perusal. Both authors are renowned and respected academics, Myles Dillon having been the senior professor at the Dublin Institute, and professor of Celtic studies at Wisconsin, Chicago, and Edinburgh universities. Nora Chadwick is a veteran lecturer at Cambridge University and Newham and Girton Colleges. Celtic Realms is written with an absolutely serious attention to detail, woven together and cross-referenced in the true tradition of Celtic knot-work, and is perhaps the result of several years dedicated study and research. It belongs in the library of any reader with more than a passing interest in Celtic history, and itself provides a student with valuable resources.

What I enjoyed most about this book were the accounts of literature and arts, where the authors bring the voice and actions of the Celtic people to life. The study of any history can be susceptible to a dry and flaky recount, yet Dillon and Chadwick have cleverly avoided such a downslide by depicting the passion, ingenuity, creativity, artistic beauty and linguistic enchantments of individuals who lived so many years ago.

I've had a few people recommend this book to me over the years, and finally sat down to read it when a friend brought it in to work for me. I went out and bought my own copy the next day.

This is an excellent book and is surprisingly current, especially considering that it was first published nearly 40 years ago. Chadwick and Dillon were definitely ahead of their time. I may have been reluctant in the past to crack this book open due to the vast amount of chaff that I have tried to digest from several of their contemporaries.

This book covers most of the topics in Celtica - prehistory, history, culture, language, kingdoms - with a heavy focus on the Celtic literature. Some great insights, definitely a useable research work.

Doesn't say a whole lot about the Druids, but match this up with Ellis' "Celtic Empire", "The Celts" and "The Druids"; Gregory's "Complete Irish Mythology"; Guest's "The Mabinogion"; and Hutton's "Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles",
and you have an excellent all-round introduction to the Celts in general and to the Druids in particular.

Most of us are interested, to some extent, in history, and Celtic history captures the interest of a consistently increasing number of us. There's so much wonder, beautiful visual and literary art, and mystery to the ancient Celts.

But amid the work published on the Celts, there is much that is superficial or based on inaccurate traditions (too often English traditions misinterpreting true Celtic realities). I've found some of the latter, as well as some much better sources, and this ranks as the best among them. The scholarly research that went into this book is very strongly apparent; it is as deep as it needs to be. But it is surprisingly accessible as well. The writers know how to speak good, understandable language rather than Academese. Also present is a large amount of actual material. Many similar volumes only present the ideas and conclusions of the writers, while not bothering to provide the reader with much source material. Here, though, you'll find some excellent pictures, fine paraphrases of many Celtic stories, and even a good selection of actual Celtic words, poetry and inscription in the original language, as well as translation. Other writers give us precious few actual Old Welsh and Old Irish words, but these authors realize that most of us will never have easy access to the old texts.

All in all, as a lay reader, if you want intelligent research which gives you a fair amount of familiarity with important ancient mechanisms like art, language and poetry styles, with a fine record of the important points of history, you'll be hard-pressed to find it in a more accessible form. I'd number this among my ten most important books.

This Dillon and Chadwick masterwork was first printed in 1967 and still stands as a significant work. Some writers of books on the Celts that have been printed over the past twenty years would have benefited if they had consulted this book.
Its discussions of the origins of the Celts are fair-minded and the authors do not rush the reader to conclusions that cannot be with our present state of knowledge and were somewhat ahead of their time in pushing back the origins of the Celtic period further than what is usually presented in other works.
For the beginner it is not always an easy read but it is still approachable and the determined beginner would do well in reading this book as their first introduction to the history of the Celts.
The author's use of the Celtic bardic texts is commendable for they introduce the information they contain yet minimize them as far as being a reliable source of fact and history.
Explored are accounts of the Celts by the Classical world as well as a discussion of the first traces of the Celtic language. Social and religious aspects of the early Celts are also touched on.
Most of the book concentrates on the historical Celts of the British Isles. Their study of the religion, art and literature of the Celts of the British Isles is masterful.
A good companion to this book is Barry Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts."