The Celtic World [Hardcover]

Miranda Green (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0415057647 | ISBN-13: 978-0415057646 | Edition: 1ST

The Celtic World is a detailed and comprehensive study of the Celts from the first evidence of them in the archaeological and historical record to the early post-Roman period. The strength of this volume lies in its breadth - it looks at archaeology, language, literature, towns, warfare, rural life, art, religion and myth, trade and industry, political organisations, society and technology. The Celtic World draws together material from all over pagan Celtic Europe and includes contributions from British, European and American scholars. Much of the material is new research which is previously unpublished.
The book addresses some important issues - Who were the ancient Celts? Can we speak of them as the first Europeans? In what form does the Celtic identity exist today and how does this relate to the ancient Celts?
For anyone interested in the Celts, and for students and academics alike, The Celtic World will be a valuable resource and a fascinating read.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Green (Celtic Myths, Univ. of Texas Pr., 1994) brings together an impressive group of European, British, and American scholars to cover the spectrum of Celtic life. The weighty tome provides discussions on language, literature, archaeology, art, economics, religion, and daily life among these ancient people. Each chapter has its own list of references, which, unfortunately, are not compiled into a comprehensive bibliography. That each chapter has a different author is both a strength and a weakness of the work. It can be jarring to move from one writing style to another, but the variety of perspectives and opinions is fascinating. The index (not seen) will be essential to use this work effectively since some subjects receive attention in several chapters. Recommended for all academic libraries and public libraries with interest in this subject.?Pamela A. Grudzien, Central Michigan Univ., Mt. Pleasant
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

One of the most comprehensive and authoritative books to appear on the history of the Celts in recent years. ... I know of no better introduction to the subject for the general reader. - Cardiff Western Mail

A massive and authoritative collection of essays ... a matchless, Europe-wide account of who the Celts were, what they created and how they lived. - New Statesman and Society

The Celtic World by Miranda Green is very impressive indeed. There is a lot here that is new and the detail is the most impressive thing about it, but then there are contributors of the calibre of Dr. Anne Ross and Professor Proinsias Mac Cana, whose works already rank as standard texts. - Quest

Product Details

• Hardcover: 864 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1ST edition (June 8, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415057647
• ISBN-13: 978-0415057646
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.2 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A supremely worthwhile resource, October 28, 2001

By 

Jane Raeburn "Jane Raeburn" (Wells, ME United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Celtic World (Paperback)

The field of Celtic scholarship has made some remarkable advances in recent years, and these articles offer a wonderful glimpse into a realm of information too often confined to the pages of academic journals. The writing is scholarly, but each article often points the way toward other resources on the same topic. I was particularly intrigued by Peter J. Reynolds' account of a typical agricultural year in the Celtic world, based on his experience running a re-created Iron Age farm.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but not for the beginner, April 7, 2005

By 

Hallstatt Prince (MA. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Celtic World (Hardcover)

Four and a half stars.
A comprehensive work using some many recent archeological discoveries. It is a great work if somewhat pedantic and should have more footnotes than it does. Some readers may be annoyed too that some chapters use second hand sources. And like Kruta's book on the Celts some of the essays are somewhat uneven in their quality. Certain chapters focus too much on arcana while others are down right confusing. It is also uneven in presenting scant information on the Hallstatt period. It is not recommend for those studying Celtic art as it lacks any color photographs. It is not the type of book that one reads through in one sitting. Still it is a great reference work.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference and in depth look at celtic research, November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Celtic World (Paperback)

This book is chock full of information. The articles are organized according to subject matter. I like the book because it gives a wide discussion of many differing aspects of celtic historical research. I have used it extensively to flesh out characters and background in writing and discussion with others with same interests as myself in celtic history. I would reccommend it wholeheartedly to any scholar in this area of research.