Description

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Beautiful edition taking the reader through the origins and history the mighty Celts, known at the time of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, highlighting the origins of modern fiction in myth and fable.

To most of us, Celtic culture is at once distinctive and enigmatic. Though we may acknowledge the Celtic heritage of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain (Galicia) and France (Brittany), and be familiar with the mythology and literature that has given us Arthurian legend and all manner of boastful gods, High Kings, wilful Queens, noble warriors, fairies, goblins and wizards, few of us are aware that the origins of Celtic people lie in Austria, or that the many tribes that made up this very broad designation have a history that spans much further afield, to ancient Greece and Egypt. This fascinating new book, written by Martin Dougherty and with a foreword by Prof Ralph Haussler, covers the history that has fed the legends: the origins, migrations, allegiances, society, culture, myths and literature of the Celts, from the ‘Hallstatt Era’ beginning in 1200 BCE to the Gaels of western Scotland and northeastern Ireland and eventual Christianization.

Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction: authors, myths, tales and history without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new Introduction and a Glossary of Terms or lists of Ancient Leaders.

About the Author

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Martin J. Dougherty is a widely published author specializing in history and mythology. His works include histories of the Celts and the Norse people as well as books on the mythology of several major cultures. Martin is the current President of the British Federation for Historical Swordplay, and teaches regularly at historical fencing events.

Prof. Ralph Haeussler (foreword) is an archaeologist, ancient historian, author and research fellow at Winchester University. Having completed his PhD at University College London in 1997, he taught at the universities of Oxford, Osnabrück and Lampeter. He is a specialist in ancient and Celtic religions, cultural interactions and ‘globalization’.