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Title: Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Whales
Author: Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees
Published: New York: Thames and Hudson, 1994 (1961)
Page Count: 427
Total Page Count: 26,512
Text Number: 77
Read For: religion research, checked out from the Portland State University Library
Short review: 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.
( Long review. )
Review posted here at Amazon.com.
Author: Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees
Published: New York: Thames and Hudson, 1994 (1961)
Page Count: 427
Total Page Count: 26,512
Text Number: 77
Read For: religion research, checked out from the Portland State University Library
Short review: 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.
( Long review. )
Review posted here at Amazon.com.
