Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales

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Summary: The cultural background that gave rise to the Celtic legends
Review: Celtic Heritage is not intended as a collection of the ancient myths and legends of Ireland and Wales, a simple glance at the cover copy and the introduction should make that clear, nor is it one of those currently faddish, cobbled together New Age warm fuzzy spirituality entertainments supposedly based on secret Celtic lore.

It is a book that explains the ancient cultural traditions that gave birth to and passed on a literature that continues to interest and inspire the average reader as well as writers and artists. The Rees are experts in their field, not popularizers, however their book is not an arcane tome intended for Ph.D candidates. If after you have read the stories of the Red Branch and Finn and the Fianna elsewhere you want to know more about their world, this may well be the book for you. Anyone of moderate intelligence and a serious curiosity about the subject will have no problem dealing with the writing style.

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Summary: Solid reading for those who want to explore the culture
Review: If you have already read some of the medieval sagas of Ireland and Wales (like the Tain or the Mabinogi) and you want to know more about the cultures that gave birth to those tales, then this is the book for you. Although this classic volume is not recent, its content remains factual, reliable, and fascinating. This is not a book to be read at one sitting. Give yourself time to consider each chapter carefully. Perhaps you'll want to read or reread some of the tales before going on. For those who follow this approach, this book can be a source of inspiration as well as information.

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Summary: The "Bible" of Celtic Research
Review: If you only buy one book on Celtic culture, make it this one. I've already worn out two copies. Indespensible material on the background and basis of Celtic mythology. Absolutely necessary to understanding the Celtic world view. Definitely not New Age fluffy bunny by a LONG shot. Advanced work and well worth the reading.

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Summary: A 'must-buy'
Review: One can easily imagine a more engaging text than the Rees' now-standard reference (and one that doesn't include the imaginatve expansion of Dumezil), but this volume is worth its full price for the index alone.

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Summary: Another classic
Review: One of the best analyses of the underlying patterns of Irish and Welsh lore ever written. This book explores the ideologies and values that helped make the real ancient Celtic religion at once unique, and linked to profounds truths known the world over. If you wish to understand real Celtic spirituality, you simply need this book.

Rating:
Summary: Another classic
Review: One of the best analyses of the underlying patterns of Irish and Welsh lore ever written. This book explores the ideologies and values that helped make the real ancient Celtic religion at once unique, and linked to profounds truths known the world over. If you wish to understand real Celtic spirituality, you simply need this book.

Rating:
Summary: Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales
Review: This book is to be highly recommended. Among strict Celtic scholars, this book is always near the top of the "Must Get" list. The stories and commentary by the authors are excellent. A worthy addition to any student of the Celtic World.