Category

Image

Short review comment

(Comments by Frank)

Full

Review

Druids

Non-Fiction

The Druids - Kendrick, TD

1st Published in 1929, this book lists all of the known  classical references to druids in both translated and original form, it still forms the bedrock from which most contemporary researchers begin. Kendrick intended his research to be used such and is to be congratulated on his lack of bias and clear concise presentation. Don't be put off by the age of this book or any difficulty in finding it, for it is a gem.

Druids

Non-Fiction

A brief History of the Druids - Peter Berresford Ellis

1st Published 1994, This book takes the essential sources from ancient Rome, Greece as many other authors before have done, but places these into context by reference to Celtic literature and folklore so often dismissed or overlooked by others. In so doing it produces a readable, compelling and balanced view of the subject that make this book a magnificent work.

Chapters: The Celtic World, Origins of the Druids, Druids through foreign eyes, Female druids, the wisdom of the druids and druid revival.

Celtic Legends

Celtic Myths and Legends -

Peter Berresford Ellis

1st published in 1999.

Celtic myths and legends are great stories belonging to our ancient Celtic heritage. This collection is well written. Read these and you are transported into the mind set and spiritual realms of our ancestors. You will meet heroes and queens, faerie and magic.

This book contains 37 stories collected from Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.

These stories are addictive, and you may find as I have, that seeking them out in books new and old becomes something of an obsession. For Druids wishing to learn from the lore of our Celtic predecessors they are an excellent and enjoyable source.

Prehistoric

Non-Fiction

Britain BC - Francis Pryor

1st Published 2003, Archaeology seldom produces works like this, well informed and yet vibrant writing that would appeal to expert and beginner equally. The author is clearly deeply passionate about our prehistory, as are many, but what makes this book very special is that his approach to people of the past is respectful and it acknowledges that they were not primitive. The idea that the further back in time one looks the people have to be increasingly uncivilised and primitive falsely colours many an analysis. Francis Pryors book blows away those old preconceptions.

It is so well written that you will not want to put it down!

Paganism

Non Fiction

The real MIDDLE EARTH magic and mystery in the dark ages - Professor Brian Bates

1st Published 2002, This book reveals the living traditions and beliefs of the ancient Celts and Anglo-Saxons of England from the dark ages as they survived through to recent times, ingeniously the author finds source material from the very group of people trying to destroy and deny the continuing existence of our indigenous beliefs - the Bishops - who wrote to each other complaining about the continuing pagan practices of their flock...it's great fun to read and very insightful.

This book is also highly praised by Prof. Ronald Hutton, another great author and a Druid himself.

Druids

Non Fiction

The path through the forest - A Druid Guidebook - Julie White and Graeme Talboys

At last! I have been looking for a book for years that I can give to people interested in the Druid way, or to new Druids, that is completely straightforward and simply put, honest, rounded and basically bang on in terms of what it says.

This book is it. I shall be buying copies for my Druid friends.

Druids

Non Fiction

Living Druidry - Emma Restall Orr

1st Published 2004, this book is not an attempt to unravel the hidden history of Druidry, it is, as the title suggests an attempt to describe the outlook of 'living druids'.

Credible books on the practice of Druidry and Druid thinking in the modern age are very few and far between. This book gives great insight from a woman who is highly respected as a leading Practicing Druid today.

Emma has done a magnificent job with this book. It is highly readable and tells of her own journey alongside the concepts and ideas which she explains in her own easy flowing way that make them accessible to anyone.

Stonehenge

Non Fiction

Solving Stonehenge - Anthony Johnson

Does this book solve the mystery of Stonehenge? Of course not, but what it does do is fresh look at the incredible symmetry and geometry of Stonehenge and at uncovers how the Neolithic surveyors arrived at the completed design.

The work, which is beautifully illustrated throughout with the authors own specially researched diagrams and computer generated reconstructions contributes greatly to our understanding and provides a wonderful visual resource.

Druids

Non Fiction

The Druids - Ronald Hutton

Ronald Hutton is a very well respected Professor of History at Bristol University, a very good speaker, and a widely respected Druid.

This book touches on the ancient Druids but points out the difficulties in using the accepted sources to tell us very much about them and moves forwards to cover in detail the story of Druidry as a counter culture over the past 200 years which is where this book is uniquely brilliant.

I have met Ronald many times and have discovered that the depth of knowledge he has combines with a good sense of humour, and this translates into this book which is readable, informative and entertaining.

Fringe Science

Non-Fiction

Civilisation One - Christopher Knight and Alan Butler

The study of ancient systems of measurement is a relatively new field of science currently, which observes that ancient peoples seemed to have used extraordinarily advanced systems of measurement with much in common between them. Here-in lies the problem because if correct, then our ancient forbears had a much better understanding of natural science than mainstream science today is giving them credit for.

To many this is a ‘pseudo science’, but read this book and decide for yourself. If the hypothesis is correct, and it is certainly convincing and well argued, then we will need to start rewriting our ideas about prehistory and giving the ancestors much greater respect.

I highly recommend this book, but don’t lend it to any friends as you will as likely as not never see it again!

Prehistoric

Non-Fiction

Prehistoric Britain from the air - Janet and Colin Bord

1st Published in 1997

130 large and simply stunning photographs taken from the air by Jason Hawkes make this book very special in that a lot of these sites are even more spectacular from a birds eye view than they are on the ground.

Get hold of this book and you will be inspired to go and visit many of these stunning ancient places. It is not very wordy, just enough information to wet your appetite for more!

Prehistoric

Non-Fiction

Hengeworld - Mike Pitts

This is a book that I never thought I we would wish to review on this web site list of merit, the reason being that the author, Mike Pitts, is the archaeologist most strongly recommending that the ancestors from Stonehenge Aubrey hole seven are not ever returned for reburial.

On this subject he and I have exchanged very harsh words.

Before opening this book I expected it to be arrogant, unreasonable, probably very dry and somewhat boring. I was wrong.

In surprising contrast this book is wonderfully written in a flowing and often humorous style, it presents information about Stonehenge and other henges in a lively and factual way, and expressed with a clear passion and reverence.

In the opening chapters of the book it becomes clear just what a haphazard process archaeology has been, and through bad practice how much information about our past has been irrevocably lost by the people involved. It also tells of some of the unlikely hero’s in the great quest for understanding the enigma of these places.

Mike Pitts clearly feels this loss of information and evidence about our past very deeply, and maybe this is what motivates him today?

This book is wonderful to read, insightful about both henges and archaeology and definitely worth the full cover price, you will not regret buying it.

Philosophy

Astrology and Compassion - Roy Gillet

Roy Gillet is President of Britains Astrological association, a Buddist and member of the Stonehenge ‘Round table forum’ who works alongside Druids, Pagans and authorities with a view to helping us all to achieve a better solstice experience. Naturally, when I had some questions about this ancient science I turned to Roy for answers and that is how I encountered his book.

I anticipated before opening the cover that this would be a book all about astrology, how it works and how to do it.

Although the book does explore astrology and how it seems to work it becomes clear early on that this book is far more than a guide to astrology, it is in fact a complete analysis of our modern world in all of its aspects explored from the perspective of an ancient and holistic way of thinking and it provides deep insights into where we are going wrong and what we should consider doing to put things right.

Forget the astrology, and this is a significant work of spiritual philosophy of value to anyone who is exploring the problems of our world today and will interest people of all backgrounds whether into astrology or sceptical.

Some might suggest that this book does not belong among books on Stonehenge or Druidry, yet I feel that it does. It speaks from a perspective that I can easily imagine our ancestors and the ancestors of many peoples around the world would talk from, if only they could speak to us now.

Maybe it is time that we listen.