Product Description

This dramatic history traces the mysterious Celts from their dark origins, including Druids and King Arthur, right across Britain and Europe and looking at their beliefs, cultures and arts as well as their warring and expansion.

The resurgence of Celtic identity in Britain and Europe has revitalized interest in Celtic history. At the same time, developments in genetics and archaeology have led to it becoming an arena of serious controversy. John Hayward explores the changing identity of Europe's Celtic speaking peoples through history, both as they saw themselves and as others saw them. Covering continental Europe, Britain and Ireland, and the present day Celtic global diaspora, this is a vibrant and meticulously researched account.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #901845 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 248 pages

Review

‘This is a masterly and accessible account of the Celts from prehistory to the present day. As a result readers can readily understand the present political, archaeological and cultural debates about Celtic identity. It is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to understand the Celts.’

Lloyd Laing, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at Nottingham

Synopsis
This dramatic history traces the mysterious Celts from their dark origins, including Druids and King Arthur, right across Britain and Europe and looking at their beliefs, cultures and arts as well as their warring and expansion. The resurgence of Celtic identity in Britain and Europe has revitalized interest in Celtic history. At the same time, developments in genetics and archaeology have led to it becoming an arena of serious controversy. John Hayward explores the changing identity of Europe's Celtic speaking peoples through history, both as they saw themselves and as others saw them. Covering continental Europe, Britain and Ireland, and the present day Celtic global diaspora, this is a vibrant and meticulously researched account.

From the Back Cover

`The Celts’ is more than a history of one of the most enduring and important peoples of Europe.

This is the first sustained examination of the real reasons for the remarkable historical phenomenon of Celtic survival. How did a small and disparate group withstand the invasions of infinitely stronger nations over many centuries? John Haywood traces an amazing story of adaptation and endurance. His conclusions are provocative and cast light on the way other relatively weak peoples have sustained their identities in the face of the aggression of far stronger powers.

The current intense interest in the Celts is sure to endure through the twenty-first century. This book is a vital reappraisal of their past, present and future.