Since the time of their supposed and still-disputed emergence, the Celts have attracted the attention of both scholars and lay people. As such Celtic tribes and their culture have become the subject of scholarly research, the imagination of common people, and an inspiration to artists of all kinds. Indeed, Celtic people have been perceived in manifold ways and thus have served as a source of a myriad of myths. For the first time now, this problem area forms the topic of intensive research work, compiled in the book under review. It has been written by one of the leading scholars in Celtic Studies, Helmut Birkhan, who is known for very substantial work in this area (cf. Birkhan 1997, 1999, and the book under review, 804 ff.).
His current comprehensive volume is divided into twelve main chapters (A–M), preface, introduction, epilogue, abbreviations, bibliography, and index. He clearly defines the subject of the book (22–29) and his aims (36), and fences off the area of his research clearly from bordering ones. In addition to those indicated in the chapter headings, other topics discussed are varied and far-reaching (cf. 796), including literature, fashion, craft, politics, pseudo-science, science proper, dance, onomastics, music, and many other types of art as well as gastronomy. The only theme underrepresented seems to be sports (e.g., 643). The author sheds light on the so-called Scottish-Irish mission (39) and the often ignored role of the p-Celts in the early Christianization process (44) and highlights aspects of the linguistic impact of Celtic missionary work on other languages (60). He also discusses Halloween, Stonehenge (439 ff., 459) and other stone formations (352), popular archeology, St. Patrick (46 ff.), various superstitions (29), and popular habits and customs (222), and illustrates the political impact of misinterpreted Celtic mythology (201 ff., 762) as well as its changing importance in everyday life (35 f.).
Being superiorly educated, the author has access to abundant literature in the original, which is certainly useful for the discussion of the impact of a culture that has spread nearly world-wide, or when he displays pseudo-etymology at work (e.g., 108) or translates the names of major characters. However, the intended audience may not be able to follow his ample exemplifications when presented in English, French, Middle English (156), Middle French (151), Medieval Scots (159), Modern Scots (715), Latin (69, 73, 133), and Italian (490). It is certainly entertaining to see languages at work, but it may prove counterproductive when seeking to attract a German-speaking audience, particularly as enthusiasts of the Celtic heritage are normally not well-trained linguists, and the percentage of passages in English is high. This is particularly true when pages in English (467–473) are immediately followed by two pages of French quotes (474 f.).
A drawback is also the definition of Celtic culture on a linguistic basis, even more so as it is repeated three times (16 f., 20). Fortunately, the author adds the territorial dimension as otherwise the overwhelming parts of the population in the remaining Celtic regions could not be called Celtic, if we consider that the most vibrant language, Welsh, is only spoken by 21 percent of its population, i.e., 582,368 speakers in 2001 (age 3 and over, cf. The Welsh Language Board) and Irish only by 3 percent, i.e., 129,000 speakers (Rialtas na hÉireann).
The peacefulness of the Christianization process is a myth (47) and later contradicted by the author himself (48, 50, 54). It would also have been advantageous if the author had followed the latest research and called the author of the Historia Brittonum Pseudo-Nennius, as Nennius himself is no longer considered to be its author (102, 105, 122, 199, 223). For the Gododdin, an authority is missing (111), i.e., Grahame Isaac, who is also an expert on Merlin (142 ff.) and the early Celtic languages. This scholar is perhaps the only severe omission in the whole of the book. Not all comparisons are acceptable (312 f., 347) and some dates arguable (182). It may also be mentioned that triads are popular in present-day Wales, too, and that the reconstruction of Bédier’s Estoire (162 f.) certainly excludes the Welsh Tristan story Ystoria Drystan (cf. Birkhan 1989). The latter, however, is basic for the author’s assumption that the most common Tristan prose is essentially British (170, 182).
The index could have been divided into a subject and a name index. As presented here, it lacks important characters in popular and academic pursuits, e.g., CúChulainn, Merlin, etc., or concepts, e.g., Halloween, Avalon, and realities like Stonehenge, well incorporated by Birkhan himself, but not listed in the index. Interesting is the partly excessive use of on-line resources in some chapters (cf. Neodruidism and Comics), including most recent popular ones, e.g., YouTube, MySpace, although it remains unclear how to access certain web pages (380, 442).
Being an excellent specialist in medieval literatures, the author rightly emphasizes the impact of Insular Celtic literature on medieval European literature and beyond (90 f.) as well as Nordic-Celtic links (179, 221 f., 354 ff.). Using his life-long acquired experiences, wit, and wisdom, he presents 760 pages of condensed scholarly arguments in favor of and against popular beliefs in the area of the perception of the Celts, blending in a tremendous amount of theories and assumptions. His at times ingenious interrelations (29) and proposals (107) are presented coherently in an entertaining, although concise, style of writing that occasionally draws too heavily on the dispersed terminology for the audience envisaged. As mistakes (e.g., 125, 568) and omissions are rare (e.g., 160, 362), the pleasure of reading is scarcely impaired and bound to add to one’s popular and academic knowledge.
In brief, the author makes a rather popular topic an academic one, shedding light on circulating myths (32 f.) in a systematic way. His immense corpus of primary and secondary sources, stretching to over seventy pages (800–870) and including the latest literature, provides a good basis to follow up on this topic academically.
WORKS CITED
Birkhan, Helmut. Keltische Erzählungen vom Kaiser Artus. 2 vols. Essen: Phaidon Verlag, 1989.
—. Kelten. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1997.
—. Kelten: Bilder ihrer Kultur. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1999.
The Welsh Language Board. http://www.byig-wlb.org.uk/English/faq/Pages/HowmanypeoplespeakWelsh.aspx, Sept. 2009.
Isaac, Graham. The Verb in the Book of Aneirin: Studies in Syntax, Morphology and Etymology. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1996.
Rialtas na hÉireann. Ráiteas i Leith na Gaelige. Dublin: Stationary Office, 2006.
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[Review length: 1066 words • Review posted on November 10, 2009]