First of all, I know that this book has been the subject of some arguments on the validity of the word `Celt' in reference to the ancient Gauls, Britons, and Galatians. In my review I am going to remain neutral, however, and review the book solely for its own sake.
O hOgain's book is lavishly illustrated and appears to be well-researched, fleshing out the appearance, fighting styles, and history of these ancient warriors using words that capture the reader's attention. By telling the history of the warriors of ancient Gaul, Britain, Eire, Celtiberia, and Galatia, he effectively gives the whole history of these realms as it is known to us - including their clashes with the Greeks, their service in Carthaginian armies, and their piecemeal conquest by the Roman Republic.
The author reveals, like most books on this topic, the various strengths and weaknesses of the ancient Gauls - tall, strong, and courageous, but also superstitious, undisciplined, and prone to heavy drinking and fighting amongst themselves. As a student of the Classical World, I have to admit that, as I read the story of the Gaulish warriors I find myself sympathizing more with the Romans. Any potential, however great, these `barbarians' may have had was lost by their pitiful disunity and bickering amongst themselves. `A united Gaul can defy the universe', this was the dream of Vercingetorix the Arvernian, one of the few visionaries that appear in Rome's accounts of the Gauls, and it was a dream too late to be realized by the time he made his stand against Julius Caesar in 52 BC. Not unlike Scotland's Highlanders, the warriors of Gaul were in fact not destined to realize their full potential as warriors until after they were conquered by their imperial neighbors - by the 2nd Century AD, the warriors of Gaul, Britain, and Spain were providing the majority of recruits into the Roman Army.
As a previous reviewer observed, this book tells the story of the wars between the Romans and Gauls without glorifying or demonizing either side, and I found it to be a well - rounded and fair work of legitimate history. Other reviewers, and those who have left negative remarks on reviews - should worry less about the relevance of the word `Celt' than they should the actual content of the book they are attacking.
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