Ancient and Modern Britons: Volume One (Ancient & Modern Britons) [Paperback]

David Mac Ritchie (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0939222108 | ISBN-13: 978-0939222100 | Publication Date: March 15, 1991 | Edition: Reprint of 1884 Edition

This volume work of Scottish Historian David Mac Ritchie, 1851-1925, first published in 1884 and long out of print, its impact will have as profound an impact as Gerald Massey and Godfey Higgins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 401 pages
• Publisher: Preston Collection; Reprint of 1884 Edition edition (March 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939222108
• ISBN-13: 978-0939222100
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #857,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real History, January 8, 2000

By 

Samuel Gibson (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient and Modern Britons: Volume One (Ancient & Modern Britons) (Paperback)

I think this book is a must for all serious Historians. It was written before the systematic cover up of Africans on the world scene. The book clears up the reasons for racial tensions between the Britons and Scotts, Irish, Welsch, etc. MacRichie also goes into the origins of many European names (Scott & Irish in particular). He goes into the origins of town and state names, costoms, language, art, religion, etc. I stongly recommend both volumes one and two.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Antiquated Knowledge We Have to Look Back to and Learn From, May 24, 2007

By 

Bonam Pak (Berlin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient and Modern Britons: Volume One (Ancient & Modern Britons) (Paperback)

Book I and II are to be found in Volume I. Book III is to be found in Ancient and Modern Britons, Vol. 2.

This book focuses on the early/original inhabitants/historical conquerors of the British Isles who weren't white. There have been various peoples who had been known by even more names. And confused by name with each other. There are the original black inhabitants, some Egypt colonizers, conquering "Danes" and other Black (!) Scandinavians and Huns/"Scythians". The author focuses on the culture of the "Gypsies", with all the possible meanings of this term.

He meticulously explains names meaning Black and geographic areas referencing their bygone Black inhabitants. There are also reflections on Black history usually dropped or disguised in school and elsewhere in popular culture. Also traces in contemporary culture are examined. Of 1884 that is, for that's the original publishing date.

Usually, that old books are hopelessly out of date. Yet, most of this book isn't, for it is about historical research of names etc., which doesn't really change that much, no matter, when you do that. In fact, David MacRitchie is closer to the times he describes than we are, which in some aspects is an advantage. There are sources available which have been destroyed, people(s) and culture still existing (even part-time troglodytes!), having vanished in the meantime. Linguistics are still better traceable. And most of all: He seems to be some sort of pioneer. Mostly, he is doing original research and reflecting primary sources, not merely copying other historians' findings. In other words, he is still unimpressed with any meme (memory) pool notion of whitening European/British history, which has happened since, while the availability of this book had been downpressed.

What wasn't known, for example, in the 19th century is the Indian origin of the "Roma and Sinti" ("Gypsies"). Which has been found out via linguistics later. But what has happened ever since is that ALL people(s), who are "known" today as "Gypsies" or by any supposedly politically correct name, are believed to have come from India. Which isn't the case. Some non-white European peoples may have (visually and/or for real) vanished altogether by now. Of course, Europe had to have been populated by "Black"/non-white people, before one mutation for "White" occurred, which then expanded, putting ever more pressure on the original inhabitants (i.e. in part the same people, only changed in skin color). Genetics confirm that several of the first European inhabitation waves weren't white skinned. As islands, the ancient "UK" and Ireland, of course, harbored those non-Whites much longer than most parts of "continental Europe". But there are also Black references in this book of other countries, such as Spain, Denmark and Germany. All of the latter (Black) re-influencing the British Isles in the last two millennia.

Most interesting is the history, not that awfully long ago, of INNER-European slavery, i.e. of the enslavement of non-Whites, after the belligerent downfall of the Black kingdoms/earldoms, persecution, expatriations and genocides of Blacks, even referencing the witchhunt as originally designed to annihilate Black druidesses. (It wasn't called "black magic" to describe the magic, but the skin color of the people "engaging" in it.)

David MacRitchie's literary style may be a bit dry and appearing at times a bit repetitive, yet the reader will stay awake, not only for the naked bodies and cruelties described all the time, but mostly for the fascinating revelations, such as the context of the origin of the word "blackmail", the various children's games of who's afraid of the Black man, and even the Tories. But also of the professional descendents of Blacks, such as clowns and tattooed sailors. The 19th century language seems funny at times, with different meanings for the words "Bohemian", "gay colours" (which is the most harmless example in that direction, I may hint), and names mentioned, which have become much more famous in the meanwhile ("Potter", which fascinatingly makes sense in the Harry version). Occasionally, he addresses the reader of the 21st century and predictions for the 20th century have become true.

The subtraction of a star is the result of a lacking preface, updating this work, i.e. dusting it thoroughly. Also for the racist-classist-culturalist attitudes of the book. Which astonishingly isn't as bad as the times were in general. Sure, there's much talk about savagery, ugliness and low end of humanity, etc., yet in a context completely in reverse at times, even accusing White culture a lot.

In short: This book is an essential classic in overstanding that white European culture has emerged in various ways along black culture. Even though further (modern) knowledge lacking in this book helps a lot in overstanding this even better.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient and Modern Britons: Volume 1, December 22, 2010

By 

Walter S. Dyer (College Park, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient and Modern Britons: Volume One (Ancient & Modern Britons) (Paperback)

I was loaned this book by a friend who is one of the very few black farmers in the state of Maryland. The tome was poorly made and started to come apart while i was reading it. That is a judgment only on the manufacture of the book though. The contents were terrific. I was very nearly astounded with the amount of information that I hadn't received from my excellent (in comparison to today's excuse for education) 1963 to 1975 Indiana and Alabama public schools education.

Over and over I was amazed by the wealth of research done by Mr. MacRitchie. I read it cover to cover and was continually surprised at the sheer magnitude of the size of the cover up of black influence. As stated by other reviewers, the usefulness of language and names to uncover the breadcrumbs of unsung history was delightful to experience. I am not now nor have I ever been a great lover of history, however this book brought a level of understanding to me that heretofore I hadn't achieved. I will end up purchasing the book for myself and probably its volume 2 as well, which I haven't read.

Reading this as an American, the only thing that really made me sad was thinking about all those lives wasted during the times of slavery, the loss of familial ties and the supporting histories, which when known, strengthen a man. Without them we are diminished. It is one thing to know about Hannibal and the code of Hammurabi. However to understand that ours were people of influence throughout the world is knowledge that strengthens the heart. This book, even with its 1884 pedigree and language difficulties, strengthens my soul.

My earnest thanks go out to the MacRitchie family and whoever took the time and money to keep it in print. There may be better books out there but the amount of data in this history is pretty overwhelming and certainly worthy of reading for digestion.