The Celts: Uncovering the Mythic and Historic Origins of Western Culture

By Jean Markale

Book Overview

While historians have tended to accord the Celts a place of minor significance in comparison to the Romans, The Celts firmly aligns the Celtic peoples as the primary European precedent to the Greco-Roman hegemony, restoring this culture to its true importance in the development of European civilization. An expert in Celtic studies, Markale regards myth as a branch of history, and explores mythological material to reveal the culture that gave rise to it. The alternative historical vision that emerges is both convincing and exciting. * One of the most comprehensive treatments of Celtic civilization ever written. * A cornerstone of Western civilization and the major source of its social, political, and literary values, Celtic civilization occupied the whole of Western Europe for more than a millennium. * Unlike the Middle Eastern forerunners of the Greco-Roman world, Celtic civilization is still alive today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0892814136
• ISBN13: 9780892814138
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Inner Traditions International
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Very Informative

This book is the most informative book I have found about the Celts. The explanation of the ancient meaning of the word Myth to the Historic Origins was unique! I truly loved this book.

Good overview of Gaulish Celts

I have a strange liking for books by Jean Markale. No matter what strange tangents my spiritual/historical leads me on, Arthurian, Celtic, Cathars, Jean Markale seems to have a book on it. On some weird level, he and I must think and wonder in the same ways and so I find his books fascinating. One thing to note about Markale that you should remember before reading him and that is he is described as a poet, philosopher, historian and storyteller and this must be kept in mind when reading him. His scholarship seems good, but his creative mind takes him places that no strict historian would travel. Nonetheless, he is a good read and a writer that makes you think with his very intelligent style of writing. That being said, I enjoyed this book for its somewhat Gaulish focus on Celtic deities, worship and history (and the subject seems to be prioritized in that order). This book is one of many of Markale's great tomes.

the power of myth

It seems that the quest of this book by Markale is to explain the Celts through the power of their myths. Noble goal, indeed, and Markale succeeds in describing the history and the emmense influence the Celts had on Western Europe...even by today's standards.... a great deal of which he does by recalling mythical incidents. His history, as always, is nearly flawless, unbias, and interesting.But I got somewhat bored with Markale's constant comparisons of Celtic myth figures to Biblical and Greco-Roman figures. Back in the days of Charles Squire this may have been necissary, but I found it tedious in this work. Not just tedious, but irrelevant and not slightly irritating.If you can get past the many subtle personal commentary and criticism, the work has great merit. Markale is a notable historian and I especially recommend his work "The Druids".

The Celts: Uncovering the Mythic and Historic Origins of Wes

Jean Markale's The Celts is a must. It is one of the most informative books on the Celts that I have ever read. Along with his King of the Celts, Women of the Celts, and Merlin, one is transported into that world of the Celts to find what beautiful, intelligent, magnificent people they were. The amount of research and sources in his books is truly unbelievable. These books are very close to my heart.

The Absolute Resource for Learning About the Celts.

With the great Celtic revival that is happening worldwide, this is the best book for anyone interested in uncovering their roots. Readers of British, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Northwestern French, Basque, Belgian, French Canadian, Acadian, and Cajun! descent (among others) will find that they all have something in common here... This book is a God-sent! It encapsulates the history, sociology, politics, language, litterature and struggles of the great Celtic nation from several milleniums BC to today and offers a compelling look at one of the most important contributing races of modern Western thought alongside the Greek, Roman and German peoples. Get it and may this book sit next to your Bible at home. Amen!