CELTIC HERITAGE PA

by Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees

Book Overview

In this widely acclaimed study, Alwyn and Brinley Ress reinterpret Celtic tradition in the light of advances made in the comparative study of religion, mythology and anthropology. Part One considers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500270392
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 430 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.2" x 1.1" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

A real old gem. Extremely well written and treating the topic with textual and the depth of the tra

Perhaps it is a little out of date, but it's certainly superior to many books that seem to be entirely focused on the rather dull and incomplete world of 'material ' history.

The Foremost Work in the Field

This work has become the classic work on the structure of Celtic mythology. The work consists of three parts, each of which is an important work in itself. The first part is an overview of Irish and Welsh mythology, as well as a demonstration that some of the material which first appears in Irish Christianity is of pagan origin (this is demonstrated by showing a common origin of themes with the Vedic tradition, suggesting a common root going back to the early Indo-Europeans. The second part is a look at various themes in the mythology, such as the dualism of darkness and light, the five divisions of the provinces, and the like. The third is a look at the main elements of hero cycles in the Irish and Welsh traditions. For comparative studies, this work provides a tremendous amount of information, which could be used to push the boundaries of our knowledge both regarding the Celts and also other Indo-European peoples. The only fault I can find with the book is that the authors often assume that the reader understands the use of the comparative method between Indo-European traditions. However, the analysis does seem solid to me and I would highly recommend this book to anyone studying Celtic material.

An in-depth study of Celtic myths, religion, and culture. Dense but readable, with too much comparat

Celtic Heritage is an in-depth study of the myths of Ireland and Whales, interpreting the myths, identifying key themes, and determining the impact of pre-Christiain Celtic society on the myths. The Rees brothers provide an overview of the branches of Irish and Welsh mythology, explore themes such as darkness and light, creation stories, hierarchy, religious/cultural centers, and the use of numbers as they appear in the myth and therefore as the influenced Celtic society, and then analyze the aspects of the different kind of stories, including births, wooings, adventures, and deaths, that make up the Irish and Welsh myths. Their analysis closely follows the original texts and shows a great deal of research into Celtic history and ancient culture. Ultimately, by working backward from the myths and using archaeological and cultural research as a guide, they are able to draw conclusions about the pre-Christian Celtic society itself: structure, beliefs, and practices. It is a scholarly text and can be dense and difficult to read it at times; there are also too many comparisons made to Indian religion, and the Reeses are to willing to use these comparative studies to imply or infer parts of Celtic religion and mythical interpretation. However, on the whole this is a scholarly, in-depth, eye opening book with useful information and brilliant, logical analysis. I highly recommend it. If you're having trouble finding a copy, college libraries seem to stock this book fairly consistently. No doubt about it, Celtic Heritage is a dense scholarly text. The myths they draw on are complex and contradictory, our cultural knowledge is limited and requires explanation, and the conclusions that that the authors draw come from significant research and analysis. As a result, this can be a challenging, time-consuming read. However, don't let the book's complexities prevent you from reading it: the Rees brothers are fairly talented writers and bring a lot of clarity to these complex subjects, and the more you read of it the more familiar you will become with the myths and Celtic culture and the easier the book will be to understand. Furthermore, the information within this book is more than valuable enough to spend the time and energy to follow the analysis and unpack the text. The book is not as difficult to read as it may seem. Give it the time and thought that it deserves, and you'll learn a lot from it. More than its denseness, the real problem with this book is the frequent comparisons between Celtic and Indian myth and culture. Comparative religious studies is a double-edged sword: comparing similar religions may provide new depth and fill in gaps of our knowledge about both religions, but we run the risk of assuming that one similarity always indicates another. In the study of polytheistic religions, the differences are often as important, if not more important, than the similarities. Indian religion, myths, practices, and gods may share a number of similariti

Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales

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.

The "Bible" of Celtic Research

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.

The cultural background that gave rise to the Celtic legends

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.