Celtic Books

If you are wondering what to read about the Celts, with little previous exposure to the subject, then you only need to know one thing: "The Ancient Celts" by Barry Cunliffe. In fact, forget about this review and just buy it now, it is that good. I am not joking! Go. Now. Why are you still reading???

Since you persist, you will find "The Ancient Celts" to be a thorough going introduction to most aspects of Celtic research and history. Cunliffe gives a broad overview of previous Celtic study, the sources and the different influences and prejudices that have wormed their way into the sources and works through history. This provides an excellent back-drop to Cunliffe's own book, and puts it into an historical context of scholarship.

For the Celts themselves, the book presents broad overviews of different aspects of Celtic society, culture, art and so on. This is necessarily brief and focuses on those Celtic peoples who are amply attested to. For those others who dwelt more on the fringes of Celtic territory, Cunliffe is rightly more cautious in the few conclusions he draws. Despite this, the treatment is reasonably detailed and will certainly give you enough to go further should you wish to do so.

This might sound a bit puerile, but another bonus for me was the ample supply of photos, pictures and diagrams that helped put a more visual facet on the text. One might think that this is a pretty banal comment, but I found it a real boon to be able to see the artifacts that Cunliffe refered to, and appreciate them for myself. The Celtic art was a classic example of this.

For those with little geographical knowledge of Europe, I have only one quibble about the book: the paucity of maps. Cunliffe uses a few geographical features, like rivers, which are less than famous. A map or two would have been fantastic for placing events in their proper location. This is just a small point which does nothing to detract from the book in its entirety.

While there are other authors out there, I would agree that Cunliffe has achieved possibly the best introduction available on the Celts. If you have not already got it ordered, I suggest you do so now. It is a great book and you won't regret the purchase.

For anyone wanting an understanding of the Celtic people, Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts" is an excellent introduction, as well as a fine review for those with a foundation in Celtic history. Cunliffe gives us a picture of the Ancient Celts from 1300 BC forward. The Celts had a most fascinating and expansive culture, dominating much of Europe up until the time of the Roman conquests. Following the Roman conquests of Europe and the Celtic lands, Celtic society faced the onslaught of Christianity which crushed some of the Celtic culture and absorbed other parts thereof. Still the spirit of the Celts survives even today... for those that know where to seek it.

As a student of Celtic Theology, I found Cunliffe's chapter on `Religious Systems' to be most interesting, but as Irish scholar Proinsias MacCana has described it Celtic religious beliefs are a "fertile chaos". There is a wide array of material reflecting the beliefs of the Celts, all of which offers us insight into their spirit and none of which fully explains it. Still, Cunliffe has done an admirable job in his explanation thereof in "The Ancient Celts".

Caesar (in "Commentaries on the Gallic War") writes that the Celts were extremely superstitious. This may be the case, but I feel that what Caesar calls superstition is nothing more than the `faith of the Celts'. One never sees superstition in one's own religion, only in the belief and practices of others.

Within the Celtic society religion was mediated by the Druids. These were the Celtic priests, but much more than mere teachers of religion, the Druids were the keepers of knowledge of the Celtic people. Also within this religious class were the `Faithi' or the seers ~ those who were inspired by the Gods to understand the `otherworld'.

Today the Celtic religious festivals survive in the forms of Samain (Halloween), Imbolc, and Lugnasad to name but a few. These and other rites were officiated at by the Druids.

I believe that the `path of the Druid' and an oneness with nature is an essential element for those who would learn the way of the Celts.

Although we tend to think of the Celtics as being centralized in the British Isles, it is important to note that the Celts established settlements across Europe into even Western Asia. Furthermore, it must not be forgotten that the Celts served to slow and curtail the expansion of Rome.
Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts" reveals the Celtic people to be of a poetic / warrior society which contributed greatly to the development of the soul of the European nations of today. Even today in television advertisement (for travel to Ireland) we see Ireland being described as a land of warrior-poets.

In a warrior society the way of the warrior contributes to the development of religion and religion contributes to the morality of the warrior. This combination of warrior ethos and religious faith make for greater equality within the society itself.

Cunliffe states: "Women clearly occupied a more significant position in Celtic society than they did in the Greco-Roman world..." Women in the Celtic Society have had a good deal of input into the development and working of that society, and this shapes the society in ways that are simply not present in a purely male-dominated society (i.e. Arab-Muslim society).
It is also interesting to note that although Celtic society may have been overshadowed by both the Romans and later by the Christian Church there is still a strong Celtic influence in modern society.

Overall, I found Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts" to be a very interesting book, serving to build a good foundational knowledge of our Celtic heritage.

Wonderful book, Cunliffe is a well-known scholar who's an expert on celtic archeology, and has been in numerous television shows and documentaries. Wonderful author, well written, and indepth. He shows you the archeology, and what it could've meant, but leaving enough room for you to draw your own conclusions. I loved the chapter "Religious Systems" as it's very informative, and solid in the archeological record. Love it, love it, love it. I fully intend to re-read it next year to see if I re-learn what I've learned. There's just so much information in this book, that it warrants another read!

Although this book has a lot of interesting information and photos, it it so tediously written and so focused on specific archeological finds that it was very disappointing overall. There was very little "overview information" about the Celtic lifestyle. If you want a lot of archeological detail this book is for you. But if you are looking for a more general book with information about the Celtic lifestle you will never make it through this textbook-like work.

The pictures are beautiful, showing many unusual pieces, but the content is often only school-book level, with little in-depth analysis or contextualizing. I found myself wishing for more information, and a deeper, more serious treatment of the cullture, the beliefs, and the everyday life of the people.

I really liked this book. As someone who's been been pregnant five times I've read most baby name books and this one has some great options. (The pronunciations are so helpful). But I had one enormous problem with this book. It's not arranged according to gender. All names are just lumped together in each section. (This bothered me so much I wrote to the author.) I finally went through with a pink highliter and underlined all the girls names (since that's what I was pregant with at the time). It may not be a big deal to you, since many of these names are unheard of anyway; but I hated it.

Wonderful assortment of names (not definitive and maybe difference of opinion on some)> Not divided into male and female names, but then these days with a penchant for giving male names to females maybe I am being picky.

It gives the meaning of the names,drawn from Celt Languages of Scots Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Beton and Cornish - 1200 traditional first names from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, and the Isle of Mane, with the pronunciations, and interesting tidbits about people that had the name. The only US book with names offering this wide of a selection. Since many people have trouble with pronouncing these names, the pronunciations guide is every helpful.

Of special interested to writers looking for Celt derivative characters for their books.

My husband and I really liked this book. While I can't attest for historical accuracy of references, at least this book had many of them and seemed to be thorough with the info it provided. There were some names I learned a lot about, and some I decided NOT to choose due to information provided. I lent this to my brother for his children. We all love it. we chose Fiona and Gwendolyn for my red-headed twins.

I'm a name lover. Always have been; always will be. Heck, I even spend most of my free time posting on a message board full of other name lovers. But more specifically, I love Celtic names. I look at every Celtic name book I see. And this is by far one of the worst, in my opinion. So many of their pronunciations are wrong, which means that when I find a name I haven't seen before, I don't know whether or not I can trust the pronunciation that they have listed. If you want a really good Celtic name book, check out Loreto Todd's "Celtic Names for Children". If I had to pick my all time favorite name book, that'd be it.

My husband and I have really enjoyed leafing through this excellent resource. We are searching for baby names that reflect our heritage, but are not ridiculous to spell or pronounce (like my Scottish name is). I haven't ordered any other baby name books...who wants to wade through a sea of 1500 names, when we know we will probably select a British name for our child?

It is difficult to write a review of this piece, without being redundant, my apoligies if I am.
It is an excellent primer in Celtic mythology, and I'd recommend it to anyone delving into such.
The Aryan undertones are not as pronounced as some other point out,they are there. I must confess being totally oblivious to them until it was pointed out in one of the other reviews. It is in the right of every author to put their own spin to their work, even one that might be used as reference. I do believe in a mythological reference one has literary license to do so, as long as the readers have the intellect to take any of it with a grain of salt, and move on with their own research for a more ecclectic view.

The back cover splash nails it with this statement, "With over forty delightful illustrations, Celtic Mtyhs and Legends provides and immensely readable introduction to Celtic Tales."

For the holed stone Dolmens I had to give it a high rating, but
for Celtic history is seems dated from an archaeological point of view.
This book isn't the first book I've read in this area and I've done extensive web searches.
A lot was old hat but some was new.
I like the old fashioned pictures.
This book is again one of Dover books' classic revivals.
And as usual dated material is going to go out of date.
In recent times we have gotten a better idea of who the " Megalithic People" were
and they don't appear to be Aryan, but pre- Aryan , maybe more related to
the Basque. Yet the book brings a lot of the tales of these early people
into the light.

This is another wonderful collection of myths and legends along the lines of the Celtic Myth and Legend by Charles Squire. Published in 1911, it of course suffers from outdated scholarship, but here is the tales are the more primary focus and what tales they are. We are taken through the standard cycles of Irish myth and into Welsh stories, but these retellings are well done. The book includes long narratives on Cuchulain and Fion MacCumhal, as well as a complete itinerary for the legendary Voyage of Maelduin. Geneological tables help the often tightly woven familial relationships come alive and the Glossary and Index is notable for helpful, understandable pronunciations for some of the more difficult words and names. This is a fine fireside read.

Despite the fact that this book is almost a century old, it is a remarkable and exhaustive collection of both Gaelic (Irish) and Cymric (Welsh) legends. I have not even read all of it yet, but I am utterly impressed with the sections that I have. An analysis of how Arthurian legend grew out of (and eventually separate from) Celtic oral tales, the only retelling of the Voyage of Maeldun that I've seen in such a volume as this, and a wide variety of tales from the Ossianic cycle are only a few of this books excellent features. Best of all is the handling of the Irish invasion myths. I had read three accounts of this cycle of Gaelic mythology, but this was the first one where I was able to keep track of who was who among the many characters and groups that walk on and off the stage. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in Celtic mythology, whether they are whetting their curiosity for the first time or are already familiar with that body of remarkable literature.

This book is meant to give the reader a general conception of the subject of the Celtic myths. The stories are too abundant to be added in their full content in a volume of this size.

Celtic Myths and Legends breaks the myths into eight chapters starting with Celts in Ancient History, Religion of the Celts and takes the reader on a trip through the Irish Invasion Myths, Early Milesian Kings, Ultonian Cycle, Ossianic Cycle, Voyage of Maeldun and Myths and Tales of the Cymry. There is a brief, but insightful explanation of the Arthurian Myths. The numerous black and white illustrations reveal the rich clothing and armor of the ancient Celts.

I have read many books on the Celtic myths and this one was the most helpful to me. I like the way the stories are broken up into shorter paragraphs with subtitles to make them easier to read and understand. There are dates given as to when these tales may have been written and when some of the legendary characters may have lived. The dates were really helpful to me and made it easier for me to understand the stories. It is interesting to see how the stories change as Christianity takes over. I think this is a great book for students and general readers who are interested in the Celtic myths.

My wife and I gave this book as a gift to her dear friend and she loves it.
She is very happy with the content and the set up of the book. It gives little side notes and she is finding , although she know quite a bit about the subject , some new tidbits to further explore.

I've always been intrigued by Irish and Welsh culture, not just a lot of famous Irish blessings which I enjoy but also their music (some of my favorite musical artists are Irish and even Welsh in origin). When I found out about this book, I was further intrigued and was very pleased by what I read. This book takes a great overall look at the great amount of information known about "Celtic lore." The book's chapters cover topics like the history of the Celts, the "otherworld," information about bards, ovates, and druids, Irish & Welsh mythology, "Celtic Christianity," revering your ancestors, "befriending the good people," and a lot more. Reading this book brought up some emotion for me in that I felt reading through it I was being transported "back home" in a way, which probably is no surprise given my Celtic heritage.

The book is an excellent introduction to all things Celtic. Anyone like me who has an interest in Celtic lore will definitely enjoy this book and it will likely leave the reader wanting to know much more. In fact the author includes a great number of related book titles throughout the book and at the book's end for that very reason. I'm looking forward now to doing more reading and studying of the Celtic world thanks to this book.

Carl McColman has successfully done the improbable - he has synthesized the pith of Celtic Spirituality in all its branches into one volume. Often I find Celtic spirituality texts to be poorly researched and too far out. Not so in this one - a gold mine of cultural gems. Presented in a clear and straight forward manner, this book speaks to me on many levels. Buy it for its clean review of Celtic history, wisely conveyed versions of traditional myths, and gentle guidance along your own personal path. A real find for the novice or advanced seeker alike.

This is a great start to research in the topics of Celtic wisdom and mythology, as well as Wicca, Grail lore, and more. It is very readable, and well laid out. The sidebars are more interesting that some other Idiot's Guides I have read.

A great investment for your mythology or occult library!

I quite honestly bought this book on a lark but found it to be jam packed with useful information. I still have copies of his "Living the Celtic Life" as well as others copied in my day planner. Full of mythology, practice, and, yes, wisdom, I truly recommend this book to absolutely anyone with an interest in Celtic wisdom streams.

This is a very good book and obviously many years of research/analysis went into this subject matter for the author to reach these conclusions. If you are searching for a new age - how to trick or treat book for witches then this book will most certainly disappoint you, but if you are searching for historical facts about a little known people called Celts who were self-governed by a priestly segment of their population known as Druids then you will appreciate the insight presented in this book.

I am surprised to read all the positive feedback on this book. I know very little about the druids, and was hoping this book will shed some light on the subject. Instead, the author mentions the word "druid" about 10 times throughout the book but spends 50% of the time on linguistic exercises such as "this name was probably derived from this word." Too many sentences start with questions that are never answered. Lots of extra information that has very little to do with the history of the druids. The author introduces multiple topics per paragraph so it's hard to follow the material. I wish I kept the receipt from the store so I could return it, but now I am just stuck with a useless book that has a cool title and a pretty cover.

a lot of nonsense thrown together to sell to would-be modern pagans. At least they don't ask for "offerings." I respect this style of fund raising far better.

Admittedly, I do not have much to add to the reviews already posted about this book. Markale does a wonderful job of developing each chapter into a comprehensive exploration of a given topic, presenting evidence and counter-evidence, weighing sources and coming to intelligent conclusions. I found the essays of Part Four: Druidic Thought particularly appealing to my personal love of theology/philosophy, but the chapters in Part Two on various deities within the Celtic pantheon were also of great interest (though perhaps not as valuable if the reader is not familiar with at least some basic Celtic myths and story-cycles).

Two aspects likely to raise objections, especially from Neopagan Druids today: Firstly, as more deeply explored in the final chapters, Markale puts forward a vision of druidic philosophy and belief which is essentially monistic/monotheistic in nature and, though perhaps politically opposed to Christianity at the time of the latter's arrival (or forced entrance) into the Celtic world, does not inherently conflict to modern, more tolerant eyes. Secondly, Markale insists that druidism, being an aspect of a particular class of priests and judges within the ancient Celtic social framework, is inseparated from that framework and so is not a valid spiritual tradition today (the single, four-page chapter devoted to the issue of "Neodruidism" displays this view perfectly).

If the reader can look past these two minor concerns (or, better yet, understand and appreciate the spirit of scholarship and intellectual honesty from which they spring), there is a great deal of valuable information and insight to be found in the pages of this book.

The difficulty of writing a factually accurate book about the druids is that not much is known about them. They passed on their tradition orally and no written record about their religion comes directly from them. An author has to rely on the accounts of them from their enemies--Christians and Romans. Markale states that much of the neodruidism of today is based on flights of fancy rather than historical accuracy.

The book goes on to cover who their gods were and what druidism actually is, relying on accounts of writers like Julius Caesar. It gives basic information about these topics and this primary section of book is rather dry.

I liked the beginning and ending of the book the best, in which Markale becomes more theoretical and speculates about how the Romanization and the Christianization of the West has had its downsides and Druidism has some attractive features to its belief system. It is a tantalizing theme that I wish the author would have explored more. The author suggest that Druidism could be beneficial to modern society, as some seek to return to their pagan roots. But then again, so little is known about Druidic beliefs, I don't think there is much to quest after.

The Druids did not believe in sin or an objective truth, but rather believed in relative truths based on different situations and in responsibility for one's actions and the consequences for those actions.

The druids themselves were the priests of the society that had power over even the king. They were also judges, teachers, physicians, and poets--the intellectual class of that society, as opposed to the warrior and artisan classes.

The many gods of the celts were in a system of false polytheism that represented the many functions of one god.

The druids believed that the world was an illusion, but did not seek to withdraw from the world, but to act in it, figuring that your body was given to you for a reason and was to be put to good use.

The druids had a deep knowledge nature, often living deep in the woods, and considered themselves part of nature, not masters of it.

The remains of Druidism can be still be found in places such as Wales, Ireland, and Brittany. Although Ireland was never Romanized, it did peacefully switch from Druidism to Christianity because there are actually some similarities between the belief systems, otherwise, Ireland would have kept to its old beliefs. Many from the Druidic class became Christian priests. The Celtic church has some remnants of druidic influence on its Christianity.

Markale is mildly critical of those in the west who have gone after the religions and philosophies of the east because he thinks that such belief systems will not ultimately help solve the west's unique philosophical problems. In other words, you can't solve western problems with eastern beliefs; the two systems are not compatible. --But I must say that Hinduism was originally an indo-European belief system.

I have just now started reading this book and am amazed by the material written. It is as if the writers are acknowledging what I have always felt about horses - the mystical connection throughout the years. This book is well written, enchanting and inviting to read. I firmly believe that horses are here to help us learn and grow spiritually as well as other areas of our life. In just looking into the eyes of horse, one can feel the connection that's always been there. The authors bring the mystical, magical, practical aspects of loving a horse and I am grateful for the gift they offer the world. I highly recommend this book! Karin Janin author of "Magic of Intention."

The first book, Horse Sense and the human Heart I think set the tone for the whole work of horse therapy. This is just a bunch of hoo ha about being Irish and horses.

Buy the first one in vast quantities. It's the gold standard.

Intimate. This book paralleled my own journey with spirituality through horses. Stunning to read in deep and historic context. Important work; well worth the effort. Emotional: Many "AHA!" moments. This work brings together the spiritual, the historical, the philosophical and psychological here on earth.

I read this all too brief book in a leisurely fashion over two months. Every time I entered its pages I soon had the feeling that I was talking with an ancient yet brand new spiritual friend. The mystical visitations by the Scottish shepherd, the Spanish waiter, the Mexican cathedral guide, and the sensitivity and sensible knowing of the authors' prized horses pierce the veil in the most profound mystic traditions, yet ground us with their practicality, their inevitability. Yes, great forces are available to us if we only open ourselves. Good will, the wish to benefit other beings, shines from every page of this book. The authors' refreshing passages about communion are inspiring.

The moment I reluctantly finished this book, I handed it to my fifteen year-old son, Eoghan, who was born in Ireland. An hour later he was hooked, too, or I should say befriended. I would like very much to meet these spiritualist authors. I don't know how I can afford it, but I would love to attend one of their equine retreats. Yes, that would be a valuable component to add to my own spiritual practice. For now, I thank them for their visitation, so like an answered prayer!

--Robert McDowell, author of the forthcoming Poetry in Your Spiritual Practice.

As the synopsis describes, this book is about a relationship with horses built around an inward and outward journey that the authors undertook and share with the readers. My knowledge of horses and equestrian issues is fairly small and for that reason I abstain from commenting on this book on those grounds. On the other hand, I do hold some solid notions on some of the cultural and geographical references the authors use (I'm Portuguese and living currently in Spain).
The recurring ignorance showed by some American citizens concerning non-American realities has become a sort of established joke outside the US borders. Unfortunately, the authors of this book live up to such jest. The description of the Iberian Peninsula portrayed in this book is, at times, so absurd, it gets hilarious. However, such absurdity seems to take itself quite seriously which impels me to warn off unwary readers, lest they might fall in love with the idea of visiting the place where its habitants, «The Iberians staunchly maintain that the horse is a gift from God, a gift to help humanity see the light and the truth» (p. 18). After all, it sounds quite tempting to meet the natives, if we take into account that «The Spanish people live close to this myth» - none other than the lost city of Atlantis (p. 19). Indeed, that's part and parcel of the whole country «culture's mythology» (Ibidem). Not surprisingly, then, it shaped the character of the «Iberian horse community» (p. 17), whatever that means.
No doubt that bringing up the topic of Atlantis with the indigenous man in the street might raise some interesting situations, if somewhat unexpected ones. Not to mention the outcome of a visit to Galicia, hoping to meet the natives wearing the kilt and speaking Gaelic (p.32). I feel obliged to warn such travellers that unless they are endowed with a strong sense of humour, they are in for a major disappointment.
Suffice to say that from the moment I read such proclamations, I couldn't take this book seriously, much as I wanted to. In fact, I couldn't finish it. Still, I choose to believe that the authors are well intended in everything they say and their attitude seems, overall, a good one.
The exercise of gathering and melting down cultural references and traditions, so abundantly used in this book, is in itself an ambitious endeavour, one that few people are capable of mastering with accuracy, seriousness and grace. In this day and age, the thirst for existential meaning has made this kind of venture very popular despite the fact that, most often than not, such attempts fall very short indeed. This work is such a case. The journey for spiritual disclosure, through our cultural mazes, is a most enticing quest, but it should not, under any circumstance, depend on the easy observing of appearances. On such journey there are no valid «short-cuts».

Here the lore of Northern Heathanism is paired and compaired with the lore of the Ancient Celts. I would recomend this book to all Asatruar looking to examine more closely, the Lore of our Folk.

This is a marvelously fascinating book detailing both Scandinavian and Celtic religion. It covers an amazing sense of similarity as well as differences between the two cultures. Davidson covers the subject from the evidence in archaelogy, iconography, literature and folklore in a search for basic patterns which are enlightening in regards to the Indo-European hypothesis. A good read, not too terribly dry, it is well worth reading.

A useful introduction to the structure, key concepts, and beliefs of ancient Scandinavian and Celtic religions. Davidson covers a number of topics, including holy places, feasting and sacrifice, battle rites, land spirits and ancestors, divination, the Otherworld, and what she calls "the ruling powers." Her text is an overview and an introduction: not very deep, but a good place to begin one's study. Because she discusses both Germanic and Celtic religions, there is too much ground to cover to do so in depth. Sometimes the religions feel confused or one of the other is ignored in order to move on to the text subject. Nonetheless, the text is scholarly, well-footnoted and clearly based in research; for the most part her analysis manages to identify key themes and symbols in an analytic, readable fashion. I believe that her attempt to categorize the gods at the very end of the book fails, but with that one exception the book is on the whole a useful, intelligent introduction to these ancient religions, and the writing style is approachable while still scholarly.

The student of either Scandinavian or Celtic religion may find this text unusual: rather than focusing on one of these religions, it discusses both concurrently. Germanic and Celtic religions appear to have a shared origin and a number of similarities, and so the analysis of both together should be interesting and provide a wider background for students of either religion. However, the broader subject matter makes for more cursory analysis and less detail: some subjects are only mentioned briefly; some subjects are discussed only in terms of one of the two religions. Furthermore, Davidson spends a lot of time talking about the similarities between the religions and often fails to discuss the differences beyond the rare mention that they exist. In comparative religious studies, sometimes it's the differences that matter more than the similarities. As such, the comparison between the two religions can at times be frustrating and degrade both.

Near the end of the book, Davidson attempts to group the gods of both Celtic and Norse religions into major groups and types, such as warrior gods and provider gods. She makes this attempt despite a preface which warns that it may be impossible and may even limit or corrupt our understanding of the gods. In her attempt, she categorizes only male gods: female goddess are ignored for the most part of the book. There is some interesting discussion about valkyries and battle goddess earlier on, but other goddess (Such as Brigid and Danu) are not even mentioned. I don't know why she omits them (perhaps they have no Nordic equivalent?); regardless, both the attempt to group the gods and the omission of the goddess do a great disservice to both religions and are the weakest parts of the book.

Despite these complaints, Myths and Symbols of Pagan Europe is still an interesting and scholarly introduction to both Nordic and Celtic religions. Davidson discusses the relationship between history, culture, and location in the formation of a religion. She looks at the root of Celtic and Nordic myths, including the relationship between the two; she looks at how natural and man-made locations and symbols impacted religious practice and the concept of sacred spaces; she looks the nature of religious practice and its role in the life cycle of the ancient Germans and Celts. She searches for symbols, correlations, and derivatives, and her analysis is clear and easy to follow. The book introduces some useful and easily applicable ways to approach a study of the Celtic and Scandinavian faiths, one that depends more on the underlying structure and purpose of the religion rather than its small, contradictory, poorly-understood or unreliable details. I do recommend this book, although I encourage further reading on the specific religions in order to gain a better grasp of their depths, individuality, and roles and identities of the gods (and goddesses in particular).

This book is mainly concerned with the format and content of pre-Christian Scandinavian religion, using Celtic and Germanic equivalents as a means of reference, support and comparison. I first became aware of Scandinavian culture during my schooldays in North-East British Northumberland, and the lessons were mainly concerned with depicting the savagery of the Viking raiders, the terrible `dragon-headed' long-ships, and their rape, pillage and plunder of civilized Anglo-Saxon Christian settlements. This image of barbaric ice-warriors filled my imagination until the mid-eighties when excavations and archeological discoveries at Coppergate in York revealed many interesting and highly cultured facets of Viking life in the early medieval period. Much of these discoveries and subsequent research was installed as a permanent museum now called `Jorvik Viking Centre.' A decade later I was fortunate enough to visit Bergen in Norway and experience Scandinavian culture and history first hand, the Bryggens Museum is a showcase of finds from the earliest settlements and includes ceramics, rune inscriptions, artifacts and the remnants of a principally shipping and commercial society up to the Middle Ages. `Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe' provided me with a carefully researched and detailed account of the spirituality of the Scandinavian peoples, and which brought to maturity all my previous thoughts and experiences, to an understanding which gives considerable credit to those communities for their important cultural legacy in Western Europe.

Davidson has used the medieval literature, myths and legends of Iceland and Ireland as the primary reference source for this book, in combination with archeological research papers and sources, and iconography of pre-Christian Western European culture. Her main inspiration appears to come from many scholars of Celtic history including Nora Chadwick, Kenneth Jackson and Anne O'Sullivan, although the principle thesis of the this research is prompted by Georges Dumezil (1898-1986) the religious historian who specialized in the analysis of Indo European civilization, who asks; "Is it possible to fit these Norse and Irish legends into a general pattern of Indo-European religious beliefs, extending back far into prehistory?" This question it seems, is the answer that Davison was seeking to explore within her work, and she does so with imagination, clear perception and a satisfying conclusion. With a broad yet defining sweep she manages to assess and investigate seven principle areas of interest; sacred places and sanctuaries, feasting and sacrifices, warriors, codes and rites and battle, land spirits, deities and ancestors, prophetic knowledge, divination and the priestly caste, cosmology and the other worlds, and finally the ruling gods, goddesses and divine pantheons.

Davidson begins with the earliest sources of a broad Indo-European culture, the archeological sources of Halstatt and La Tene circa 800 BCE to 200 CE, and follows through her study to approximately 1000 CE when the Scandinavian Vikings began to convert to Christianity. She employs free use and comparison of geographical sites, archeology, linguistics, cultural, social, artistic and spiritual characteristics, and the dynamics of the anarchical tribal-feudalism of early European society to successfully accomplish the study.

I grew up within a traditional working class British community. There, the cultural inheritance was composed of remnants of ancient and medieval thought whose pattern and dynamic has evolved little beyond the concept of `indentured servitude.' Tribalism still exists albeit in the form of soccer, and beyond the boundaries of the town there still exists a fear, a dreaded chaos, of foreigners and disorganization. Even when I was a lad in the seventies there was a strong sense of home, a hearth and odd yet valid seasonal customs whose origins may be traced back a thousand years. From a curious perspective, even a psychological one, this volume (and others like it) helped me to understand my background, language, beliefs and culture from a traditional point, and subsequently how those traits still influence my perception and actions today. It is not a book that changed my life, but illuminated facets of it and helped me in understanding myself more.

I had to keep flipping back to remember what this page was referrencing, as it jumped around a good bit. The information was badly put together, I wish it had a more coherent form - it seems like really interesting information -

This woman has the writing skills of a high school dropout. Some sentences are written so badly I had to read them again just to make sure they were in English. For some reason I thought this was a serious book about the Celtic revival phenomenon instead, I found out it was just another new age junk book filled with clichés, gross generalizations and non-sequiturs. Here is a classic example (pp. 29-20)

"Matriarchal order and lineages stem from the early concept that creation comes from women. Creation is a divine seed, stemming from the Mother. Plainly, the mother's identity is always certain while the father's is not..."

I want my money back.

This book would be a great starting point for those interested in exploring the realms of Celtic Magic. Ms. Knight covers Shamanism, the Celtic Gods and Goddesses, the Druids (including a brief description of the Ogham, a Celtic form of tree divination), the Faeries, and modern Celtic Traditions. She includes several visualizations and some sample rituals. She also talks about Celtic Wicca, which I didn't actually think was necessary; for me the Celtic lore would have been enough, but of course this would be an added plus for those interested in following the Wiccan path.

She also has a recommended reading list and a list of favorite Celtic music titles which I found to be very helpful.

Ms. Knight's writing is enjoyable and easy to read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wishing to explore the Celtic path.

This book is one of the best I've read on Celtic traditions. Most books on the Celts give you lots of examples of rituals and tools, but they don't explain the base of the Celtic beliefs. THIS BOOK DOES. This book gives you the history on the Celtic traditions. Not just a general overview, but why they believed they way they did. It is the best source of information I have come across. It has the information on tools and rituals, but those are no good if you follow something you don't know the history of or why you are doing rituals or what the tools are used for. This book has everything.

Sirona Knight should never be considered a scholarly source on Druidism. She's just horrible & Wicca-fies everything she touches. Her books are usually her take on things, not an expression of things as they are or were. Stay away--FAR away!

I have read several of Sirona Knight's many books, and have always found them enjoyable to read. "Celtic Traditions" offers an excellent overview of Celtic culture, including a section on faery traditions. Beautifully combines historical data with modern Celtic spirituality. I strongly recommend this book along with "The Druids" by Peter Ellis and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies" by Sirona Knight

Morgan once again has captured the Celtic spirit. It is a great sequel to her novel Druids. Her novels give the reader a glimpse into another time. A must read for those who have an interest in all things Celtic...She has made each character come alive with the gift of an art she possesses. I look forward to another of her creations...

This book kept my interest and helped me to understand the many cultures that influenced Irish life before Chrisitanity. Very interesting!

Escaping from Gaul when Julius Caesar and his army conquer their homeland, the High Druid Ainvar leads his clan to a new life in Hibernia. This novel writes of the adjustments made, the learning shared between the customs and traditions of the Celts and the Gaels. Overshadowing all, are the mysterious Tuatha De Danann who ask simply to be remembered.

Ainvar finds his own magical power as a druid diminished, yet the power of others in his clan notably Briga (his senior wife) increases. Over time, members of his clan find their space and their peace in Hibernia and Ainvar himself finds his own balance between chaos and pattern.

Highly recommended to those who enjoy Ms Llewelyn's storytelling, and the magic of Celtic fantasy. This is the sequel to `Druids'.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Over the past 20 years, I've read several of Morgan Llewellyn's books, including "Lion of Ireland," "Bard," "Grania,""1916," "1921," and the companion novel to "The Greener Shore," the book "Druids." I have always admired her ability to weave fact and fiction, using the latter to flesh out the former into compelling reads that really make you feel as if you're there and can understand the characters, the landscape, and the times.

This novel, however, disappointed me. There is material in this that is drawn from historical, archaeological, scholarly, and literary sources. However, there's also MUCH poetic license taken. Please don't read this thinking you're getting any kind of accurate portrayal of the ancient druids. This is a fantasy story, like "Mists of Avalon" or "Lord of the Rings."

And, even as stories go, it was less a story and more a spiritual credo. It had a kind of "Celestine Prophecy" "Bridge Across Forever" quality to it, as if the novel were simply a vehicle for expressing a particular set of (very modern New Age) beliefs. The writing was saturated with repetitious talk about "the pattern," "the Source," the sanctity of nature, the experience of death, reincarnation, etc., not in a way which engaged the reader nor furthered any plot, but as an end in itself.

The novel is written in the first person, from Ainvar's point of view, and most of it takes place entirely in his head as he ruminates over past failures, current failures, possible future failures, the nature of the universe, the perfection of nature, the magic which has seemingly abandoned him, crises of belief, and the hatred he has for Caesar and the Romans. But very little actually HAPPENS. Ainvar is little more than a spectator watching as various, disconnected activities, triumphs and tragedies, swirl around him. There are characters who seem terribly important to him -- such as Red Wolf, his wife Briga, his lost daughter Maia, and the fairy spirit woman of Ireland -- but these characters are mostly absent from the novel and the promise of their importance never plays out, other than as macguffins for sparking Ainvar's metaphysical and mental meanderings.

(WARNING: Some possible spoilers below - though I tended to try and be vague)

Druids is one of my favorite books, so I was very excited to hear of this sequel. Unfortunately, this story is disappointing on many levels.

To sum it up: Nothing happens. Period. There is no excitement in this book. It is a droll account of day to day existence for Ainvar and the survivors in his small clan of the Carnutes. There are some periods where you begin to believe that something exciting might happen, but then it either never materializes (such as a "Druid showdown" of sorts - which appears to start and then all animosity is later forgotten), or it fizzles out quickly. Basically, we just hear endlessly about how Ainvar is sad and how great Briga is. Even when there is a murder, it barely gets a few pages worth of excitement before it appears to have been completely forgotten (from what I could tell, it wasn't even mentioned to this person's son when we meet up with him again later in the book - or at least, he never showed any signs or emotions of knowing about it). We also get treated to a huge amount of "magic" that goes well beyond the suspension of disbelief we had to have with the first book - to the point that it actually annoyed me.

I love Morgan Llywelyn's work, and I will always continue to read it. This, however, was a very painful read.

This is the epic fantasy tale as told by two excellent Irish writers in collaboration. I am rating it at a "5" out of "5" due to what I saw as the risk taking in the writing and imagery. If fantasy is one of your favorite genres of books, this will be a very entertaining read. It is the epic style fantasy story of the young boy Caelid as he is transformed into Silverhand. His fantasy habitat is wonderful wordscape as drawn by Scott and Llywelyn. It is a world of werewolves and werebeasts, of a Duet of a twin sister and look alike twin brother creating their own Tantra Yoga type magic through incestuous love. They control the "voids" - a type of small vortex blackhole in reality.

However, I am giving this book a high rating with some criticism. It is an overlooked Fantasy title due to the third book never being published. Someone starting the Arcana Book I adventure must mentally allow for the fact that Book II will be the inconclusive end to the tale. This is a real tragedy for fantasy readers. Perhaps someone will bypass the publisher impasse by making a movie of the Arcana story. If done well, it could even approximate the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Llywelyn is one of my favorite authors. I am left wondering what the book would have been like without Scott. While I believe he lends a valuable masculine viewpoint to combat passages, there is a shift in writing styles back and forth. Llywelyn's style is that of a master Bard (story teller) with richly developed characters and settings.

If there is a way to get the third book published so this work stands as a fantasy trilogy, it would be impossible to ignore.

This is definitley not Llywelyn's best stuff. It is a passable fantasy/scifi read, but it seems written in fairly cliche form, and thus may seem suited for younger readers. However, the bits with the incest would have to be blacked out.
In conclusion: Silverhand is a fairly easy read, and, while it does have some twists on the basic storyline, once the twists are past the plot becomes fairly easy to guess, with the only random element being which of the secondary characters will die next, and in what manner. If you don't have anything better to read, go ahead, but you'd be much better off with another Llywelyn title.

When I started reading Silverhand, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I've read loads of Llywelyn's books previously and have enjoyed most of them very much. Any time an author teams up with someone else, though, one can't help but wonder what impact there will be, especially when the general subject matter is quite different than their previous works.

Most people will agree that near the top of the list of criteria for a quality work of fiction is it's ability to draw the reader in and keep their attention. Silverhand certainly did that in my case. I had a very hard time putting the book down - finding myself reading way more pages in a sitting than I would normally do for most books. I can't really say why that was. It was kind of a hypnotic thing, I guess. Regardless, I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Orphaned by an account he cannot fathom our hero strives to survive in an unforgiving and hostile world. Maimed to save his soul he is nursed back to health and schooled by the priests who have their own agenda for him. His only home/sanctuary destroyed by the evil twins he sets out on a quest to discover the powers of the Arcana and their part in destroying the Twins.His allies a half stone warrior woman, a vampire who loves him and a werewolf who is his equal in battle and brains. A totally enjoyable and exciting tale of self sacrafice, supernatural and trials of life itself. Can't wait for the third installment.

After reading everything Morgan Llywelyn has written, this was my last stop. I was very disappointed with this book, I could tell the horror parts written with Michael Scott's influence. Cannibalism, incest, monsters, people turning into jelly, after a while the shock loses its influence, and the reader becomes inured to the violence. I agree with those who say that Morgan Llywelyn should do her own thing from now on. That, and the fact that there will be no book 3, probably means this book is not worth the time to read it.