SYNOPSIS

The Celts, a richly illustrated introduction to this extraordinary civilization, presents an art of immense complexity, ranging from exquisite gold jewelry to decorated weapons of war, from manuscript illumination to the spectacular intricacy of knotwork and other patterning. The broad repertoire of Celtic motifs and symbols --- solar spirals, the salmon of knowledge, the horned god and the endless knot, among others --- is presented with full interpretative commentary. Themes such as nature’s deities, the Tree of Life, magic and the Otherworld, the mysteries of the Druids, the veneration of heroes and warriors, and the mystic seasonal festivities are explored in fascinating detail.

The perfect addition to any library of art and imagination, The Celts sets new standards in capturing the achievements of this lost civilization through the marriage of word and image.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/S

Juliette Wood, PhD, is Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Welsh at the University of Wales, College of Cardiff, and part-time Tutor in the Extramural Department at the University of Reading. She has taught and lectured widely on Celtic tradition and folklore and was made President of the Folklore Society in 1996. Her many publications include The Celtic Book of Living and Dying.

FEATURES

• Presents a superb pictorial record of the Celts, with specially commissioned artworks and over 100 magnificent photographs, all in full colour
• Illustrates the full splendor of Celtic manuscript illumination and the astonishing intricacy of knotwork and other patterning
• Reveals, with full commentary, the broad repertoire of Celtic symbols and motifs – from solar spiral to the salmon of prophecy
• Provides a fascinating and authoritative text to accompany the rich treasury of images
• Moves deftly from theme to present a fresh appraisal of the cultural legacy of the Celts
• Sets the art of the Celts against the broader background of Celtic wisdom, spirituality and mythology