Here is the Ancient Celtic history written by an author who is a known expert in the field, and who has the gift of a first-rate storyteller. This beautiful book deals with approximately 1500 years of Celtic culture, from its beginnings around 500 B.C. to the start of its decline around A.D. 1100.

The Celts offers brilliant illustrations on every page, showing stone carvings and exquisite artifacts in gold, silver, and bronze; pages from illuminated manuscripts such as The Book of Kells; views of monks' cells and Celtic ritual sites in the Irish landscape; and iron weapons from a warrior's tomb.

Details of Celtic society reveal a remarkable bearing on our way of life today. The Celtic culture was one of excess--personal vanity was considered normal and represented a healthy sense of self-worth; generosity was highly prized as the mark of a true hero or heroine; words and wit were so powerful they coud bring down an opponent on the battlefield, and the legends of King Arthur have survived to this day.

Discussions of the role of the mystical Druids, social values such as marriage and divorce, and carefully selected myths and legends provide an essential introduction to the history and the passions of these extraordinary people.