In The Celts: A Modern History, author Ian Stewart explores the Celtic identity. Stewart traces the history of the Celts from their ancient origins to their present cultural and multinational identity comprising of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and France’s Brittany region. He examines how the Celts have been perceived and portrayed throughout history, focusing on how their identity has been shaped and reshaped by various cultural, political, and social forces.
The Celts explores a wide range of topics: language (and the significant levels of debate that went into identifying just what language family Celtic languages derived from), art, religion, and social structures. Stewart also examines the role of the Celts in various historical events, such as their interactions with the ancient Greeks, Romans, and their influence on the development of European culture. The Celts also provides significant insight into more modern Celtic identity movements, both at a national (i.e. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) and international level with the Pan-Celtic movement to create a Celtic confederation in Western Europe.
Stewart's writing style is engaging and intellectual. The Celts is a scholarly historical read with tremendous research and insight, not a book you can quickly read through in a weekend. However, that research and insight yields a book that skillfully weaves together historical evidence, linguistic analysis, and cultural insights to create a rich and nuanced portrait of the Celts. The Celts is a valuable contribution to the field of Celtic studies.
MY RATING: 4.5
