The Book of Druidry, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A comprehensive study of the Druids, from their earliest history to the present-day renaissance.

From the Publisher

The most comprehensive survey of Druidry available, from their earliest history to the current renaissance--including a study of the shaping of their ideas, their principal deities and myths, their learning and social organization, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thorsons (January 25, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855381672
• ISBN-13: 978-1855381674
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #961,776 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title, March 22, 2000

By	Francine Nicholson (New England) - See all my reviews

The Book of Druidry claims to be a history of an ancient religious system. In fact, the book presents a modern blend of New Age approaches, pop psychology, Nicholls' own ideas, and the well-intended but inaccurate writings of 18th century antiquarians such as John Toland and William Stukeley. For example, Nicholls and Carr-Gomm present druidry as a prehistoric system of belief that they say originated on Atlantis, was practiced by the builders of Stonehenge, and was adopted later by Celtic settlers in Britain. Such statements contradict all the archaeological, linguistic, and historical evidence that document the druids as the clergy of the pre-Christian Celts. Another imaginative idea asserted as fact in this book is that the Ce/li De/, a monastic reform movement of ninth-century Ireland, was actually founded by the sixth-century saint Colum cille as a refuge for persecuted druids and a vehicle for preserving druidry for future generations. If you are seeking accurate information in an easy-to-read format, try Miranda Green's _The World of the Druids_ or Barry Cunliffe's _The Ancient Celts_. For more depth, see Anne Ross's _Pagan Celtic Britain_, Green's _The Celtic World_, and _The Celts_ ed. by Moscati. The facts about the druids are intriguing in themselves; there's no need to manufacture a history for them.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book of MODERN Druidry, July 12, 2000

By	"wyzardd" (Arvada, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Modern druidry traces its roots to the early 1700's and that is the tradition that this book is about. The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids is still around and going strong and this book seems to be an introduction to the Order.

All that aside, it is a good read. A wealth of ideas, this book can be one step on your spiritual path. Or it can be just an interesting book about modern druids. Regardless of your beliefs, if you have any interest in the subject this is a good book.

There are many other books available if you are interested in historical druids- "The Druids" by Stuart Piggott, for example.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Druidry from A to Z!, January 10, 1998

By A Customer

The Book of Druidry was essentially the life work of the author (published posthumously) and represents a maximum attempt to catalogue and share the collective of what we know about the ancient Druids. It reads somewhat like an encyclopaedia or almanac with the reader able to look-up items of particular interest (e.g. sacred sites such as Stonehenge) or read straight-through, cover-to-cover. Given the number of bogus (revisionist) works in print purporting to inform us about druidry or druidism (as it is sometimes also called), some of which claim access to secret or otherwise sacred texts, etc. (which is complete bull-manure), enough cannot be said about a work like this which has both scholarly merit and general appeal. Buy it and see for yourself!