Fingal's Cave, the Poems of Ossian, and Celtic Christianity [Hardcover]

Paul M. Allen (Author), Joan deRis Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

On the isolated island of Staffa, near Iona in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, basalt columns have formed a cathedral-like cave where wind and water ebb and flow, creating an ethereal music. This is Fingal's cave--a source of mystery, esoteric spiritual insight, and artistic inspiration for centuries. Mendelssohn and Turner were inspired by it, as was philosopher and educationalist Rudolf Steiner. The cave figures in the fragmentary poems of Ossian, collected by the poet James Macpherson, which were a great influence on 18th- and 19th-century Europe and America. Paul and Joan Allen explore the meaning of Fingal's initiation rite, the development of Celtic culture, customs, and influence into modern times, and its revival once again today.>

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Renowned for its spectacular basalt columns, Fingal's Cave, in Scotland, figures prominently in the controversial poems of Ossian, a legendary Gaelic poet of antiquity who deeply influenced the Romantic Movement. (Several recent titles, including The Poems of Ossian and Related Works, edited by Howard Gaskil, provide a solid scholarly introduction to Ossian.) Celtic Christianity is also of great current interest. Rather than presenting a reasonable discussion of any of the above, however, this book is more a tract on Rudolf Steiner, a turn-of-the-century forerunner of the New Age movement who founded a society for the advancement of Anthroposophy, a body of lore he assembled from elements of occultism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism. This lore includes the foundation of this book, a talk Steiner gave on Fingal's Cave in 1911Aa ramble through various odd nooks of occultism, Antlantean fantasy, etc. Certainly curious but not recommended except for collections where Anthroposophy is a subject in demand.ACharles V. Cowling, SUNY at Brockport Lib.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826411444
• ISBN-13: 978-0826411440
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,631,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating, April 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fingal's Cave, the Poems of Ossian, and Celtic Christianity (Hardcover)

Rudolf Steiner described Fingal's Cave as "a temple built by the spirits of nature". Anyone wanting to understand Celtic Christianity should read this book, and anyone visiting Scotland should visit this sacred site, only 5 miles from Iona. This site has had a profound influence on many artists and writers, and the Poems of Ossian are one of the great treasures of spiritual literature. Read, learn and enjoy.