Product Description

The Celtic period was one of tremendous expansion, the last phase of European material and intellectual development before the Mediterranean world spread northwards over the Continent and linked it to modern times. Nora Chadwick's classic survey traces the rise and spread of the Celts, from their arrival in the British Isles in about the eighth century BC to the gradual transformation of their culture, initially under the Romans and later the Saxons.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #571919 in Books
• Published on: 1997-07-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
NORA CHADWICK was born in 1891 and went to Newnham College, Cambridge, where she was later an Honorary Life Fellow. Most of her life was spent doing research, mainly into the Celts. She wrote many books and articles in connection with her subject and in 1961 was awarded a CBE. She died in 1972. BARRY CUNLIFFE studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge. His books include THE CELTIC WORLD, IRON AGE COMMUNITIES IN BRITAIN and DANEBURY.

Customer Reviews

excellent, academic and myth-busting
I've read this book several times, and am just re-reading it. I grew up with Welsh history; studied anglo saxon and early celtic literature at university; and thought that I had a pretty thorough grasp of the subject. Nora Chadwick's The Celts is clear, well written and well sourced. Her academic approach confronts the myths and misconceptions about Celtic history and literature which have developed in our own time, and which were earlier developed both in Victorian times and in the middle ages. New agers may not find the de-bunking of druidic glamour to their liking. Details such as the prevalence of slavery in early Celtic cultures are a far cry from the myths which sell Celtic trinkets in stores across the country. This book sets the record straight - and keeps you gripped cover to cover.

Review "The Celts"
As stated in the introduction, a very scholarly work, suitable, I found, only for other scholars
For the general reader, it gave no feeling for the Celts generally, nor their customs, arts, social organisation, achievements, nothing
A series of facts, set down in a boring and pedantic way, it reminded me of some of the terrible history lessons I suffered at school years ago
James Mackay