The Wisdom of the Celts

While they left few written records, the Celts’ profound influence on Western culture can be found throughout art, literature, spirituality, and even ecology, and remains a strong presence in pop culture today. The Wisdom of the Celts offers a fascinating view into the world of the Celts: their origins, their diaspora throughout Europe and Turkey, their vibrant society, and their great respect for wisdom and an oral tradition. Drawing on folklore, legends, transcriptions, ancient Roman texts, and the literature of Ireland, Scotland, France, and Wales, this comprehensive guide brings to life the Celt ideology. Topics include heroes, King Arthur, the Otherworld, death, healing, love, nature, sexuality, freedom, spirituality, shape-shifting, animals, the role of women, family, and beauty. In addition to a selection of quotes, excerpts, and verse, this absorbing book includes a comprehensive explanation of each text, an extensive introduction, a historical timeline, and a glossary of characters and sources.

Proud, spiritual, artistic, scholarly—the ancient Celts were people ahead of their time, and the Celtic world, which stretched from the British Isles to Gallatia during the Iron Age and Roman-era Europe, was one of the most highly advanced societies in history. The Celts were the first people in Northern Europe to use and work with iron, and their art remains revered worldwide. Theirs was a truly democratic and progressive society in which scholarship was held in the highest regard, sexuality was free and open, and women were fierce warriors.