Simon James (3)

I bought this book back in 2009, I believe, when I was on a holiday in Dublin. One of the visited places was Trinity College, and in its shop I saw this book. Since I was, at the time, very much interested in The Vikings, the purchase was logical. Still... 4 years to read a book?

Simon James managed to create a very interesting introduction (with drawings and pictures/photos to accompany/complement the written word, including quotes from Roman writers/philosophers/emperors) to the world of the Celts. Who they were, how they spread over Europe and a little into Asia, how they lived, fought... What their beliefs were, how they treated their dead. What art they made, and how that art had various styles, spread over Europe.

Of course, a lot is also written about the Roman conquest, the influence, how rich Celts mainly created the myth that all adopted the Roman style of building and art. How Celtic tribes fought the Romans or joined them in return for Roman citizenship and goodies.

A few words are written about the Picts, about the era after the Roman invasion, and how Ireland and the rest evolved. Finally, in more modern times Celts (and Irish) also migrated, be that to the USA, Canada, Australia, ...

Everything in this books is nicely divided into chapters, that make it clear what aspect of these people is being discussed. This also means you don't have to read the book from front to back, but can pick any chapter as you see fit.

At the back you'll find a glossary, explaining all the applied terms. There's also an extensive list of where to find museums that display Celtic art or archaeological discoveries. And last but not least, Simon James added a Reading list, according to the chapters in the book, of which other books you can consult on the respective themes, in case you wish to explore it a little deeper.… (mer)

Simon James manages to redeem his earlier issues in this book. While still a reference book with a focus on the broad strokes, the use of artifacts and imagery from the ancient art (or reproductions thereof makes this book seem more complete and thought out. My major complaint this time, though, is the time spent on the more harsh aspects of Roman life. As often occurs in books about the Romans, the author spends a lot of time on the military and the arena; while the military was essential to Rome and the arena an important cultural touchstone, they arent the only things the Romans did. This book does at least try to balance things out with other topics, but the inevitable overfocus on the gladiatorial combat is a little disappointing. The layout of this book will appeal to younger readers who prefer images and brief captions, though this one is tougher to track where the captions belong than some others might be. The organization by idea is pretty good too, though sometimes the pages get a little cluttered.… (mer)