Simon James, Thames and Hudson, London, 1993.
The first chapter, "Who Were the Celts?", begins referring to Celtic speakers (p. 7), mentions their geographical extent, "Not just in Britain and Ireland, but from Spain and France to Southern Germany and the Alpine lands, Bohemia, and later in Italy, the Balkans and even central Turkey." (p. 7) He mentions that the application of the term Celt to inhabitants of the British Isles originated in 17th and 18th Century studies in linguistics and writes that, "The kilt itself is known to have been invented as late as about 1730 by an English industrialist, Thomas Rawlinson..." (p. 9) He would restrict the use of the term Celt for the period commencing with the first use of the term by Classical authors. (pp. 10-11)
He mentions three sources of knowledge: documentary, linguistics and archaeology. He outlines the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures, the attacks on Rome (c. 390 BC) and Delphi (279 BC) and pressure on the Celts from Germans and Romans. "Roman rule seems to have virtually extinguished the culture and, very slowly, the languages of the continental Celts." (p. 12) He moves on to refer to the further pressures by the Vikings, English and French. He briefly describes the archaeological sites of Hallstatt and La Tene and their identification as evidencing two distinct chronological periods.
The second chapter, "The Earliest Celts", takes a closer look at the archaeological remains of the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures and discusses such topics as wide-ranging pre-historic trade, the rise of chiefdoms and Celtic migrations.
Chapter Three, "The Celtic Lands", surveys the various Celtic regions. "The Celtic world was not an empire, but a mosaic of tribes, a rich and diverse pattern of chiefdoms and kingdoms." (p. 33) He questions Roman accounts that Rome was not completely taken by Celts in c. 390 BC, discusses Celts in Italy, for example the Insubres whose capital was at what is now Milan and the Boii one of whose centres is now Bologna. He continues with a look at the La Tene homeland across the Alps under pressure from Germans. He considers the Danubian lands whence the Celts thrust into Greece and what is now Turkey. He mentions, "The existence of the central shrine, Drunemeton ('oak santuary')" in Galatia. (p. 41) He finds Iberia interesting as, "There was no general adoption of La Tene art or other aspects of material culture." (p. 42)
He proceeds to consider Gaul, opining that, "Celtic tongues were already widely spoken during Halstatt times," (p. 44) including in Britain, Ireland and Spain. (pp. 43-44) He concludes from paucity of archaeological evidence an absence of Gaulish trade with the Classical Mediterranean from c. 400 BC to the Second Century BC. He then mentions Roman entrance into Gaul in the late Second Century BC. He continues with a look at Britain, observing that earlier archaeological dating of putative remains of the Belgae in Britain has now been revised ("Post-Caesar" p. 48) and, "The Belgae in Britain are invisible archaeologically." (p. 48) He proceeds to dispute the accounts of immigration to Ireland in THE BOOK OF INVASIONS.
Chapter Four, "The Patterns of Life", mentions the division of Celtic society into Warriors, Men of Art and Freemen, discusses agriculture, buildings, hill forts, physique, health, characteristics and accoutrement of each sex, feasting and clientage.
Chapter Five, "The Celts at War", considers arms, armour, nudity in battle ("Sensible for an unarmoured man in that wounds contaminated with dirty cloth are highly prone to infection." p. 77), chariots and cavalry, "Challenges to single combat," (p. 81) taking heads and, "Celtic lack of discipline or tenacity," (p. 83) He takes a special look at the great Roman victory at Telamon in 225 BC. The Celts were, "Equal to their foes in courage, and inferior only, as a force and individually, in their arms." (p. 85)
Chapter Six, "Gods and the Afterlife", mentions multiplicity of gods, triads, reincarnation, druids, sacred groves and sanctuaries, sacrifices, burials and cremations.
Chapter Seven, "La Tene Art and Technology", mentions the high quality of Celtic accomplishments in metalwork, glasswork, pottery, carpentry and shipbuilding. He adds, "The richest La Tene art is concentrated on items of personal adornment (jewelry, mirrors, elaborate weapons), on transport (horse and vehicle harness), and on equipment for aristocratic feasting. Most of it was designed to be seen on or immediately about the person, and it is probable that the display of the wealth and taste of the owner was its principal raison d'etre." (p. 115)
Chapter Eight, "The Celts and the Classical World," informs the reader, "Under Roman rule, many Celtic speaking regions maintained much of their identity for a surprisingly long time, and achieved a degree of political stability and material prosperity far beyond that of the Iron Age." (p. 117) He mentions changes in Gaul, including the growth of the oppida even prior to the Roman conquest. He mentions the expansion of Rome into Celtic regions, including Caesar's conquest of Gaul and the conquest of Britain. He then considers Romanization with increased urbanization, service in the Roman army and some Gauls entering the higher classes at Rome, including the Senate.
The chapter continues with a consideration of religion under Roman rule. Tolerant in general, the Romans moved against the druids, "Ostensibly because of their association with human sacrifice, but more probably arising from the fear that such a supratribal organization might foment rebellion." (p. 143) The Empire brought not only the Graeco-Roman pantheon with the application of correspondences to Celtic deities, but also more exotic deities. It also fostered man made structures for worship, as well as sculptured representations of those worshipped.
There is a look at agriculture under Roman rule and the disorders that attended civil wars, external invasions and the collapse of the Empire.
Chapter Nine, "The Celts in Ireland", repeats his opinion that La Tene culture was adopted without large scale immigration. Writing, "The surviving Irish tales are as close to the ancient Celtic world as we can get," (p. 158) he quotes several passages mostly from THE TAIN. He then mentions Christianization, Christian art and ogam.
Chapter Ten, "The Celtic Renaissance", looks at the Dark Ages, the Arthurian legend, the arrival of immigrants from Ireland to what is now called Scotland after them. the Celtic Church and the impact of the Vikings.
Chapter Eleven, "To Modern Times", observes both the disintegration of traditional societies with large scale emigration and, "Growing consciousness of identity, leading eventually to the reassertion of Celtic nationhood." (p. 177)
This well-illustrated volume is an interesting consideration of the topic, and the reader is advised to note what here is fact and what is opinion.