BOOKS

Here is a Celtic reading list which contains some of the most important books on the Celts and Celtic topics. These are the best introductory texts available. Many of these books can be found in different editions. The copyright dates shown here are for specific editions that I own or have read.

History and Culture | Mythology | General | Art and Knotwork

HISTORY AND CULTURE

CLICK ON THE TITLE OR THE PICTURE OF THE COVER BELOW

The Apple Branch : A Path to Celtic Ritual
Alexei Kondratiev

I just picked up this book while in Ireland, and was amazed by it. Finally a good book for Celtic spiritualists of all kind written in a scholarly fashion, yet easy to read. It even carries a recommendation from a professor of Irish Folklore (Daithi O'hOgain at University College Dublin), and it's well deserved. If you can get this book, read it! Highly Recommended.

The Irish Spirit
Laurence Flanagan, Padriac O'Farrell, Daithi O. Hogain

A Collection of tales, proverbs, and studies in local tradition is a wonderful read and a great addition to any Irish library. Maybe I'm a bit partial because I got to meet and talk with some of the authors, but I really think this is a great book for anyone who is more interested in the Irish tradition. Recommended.

In Ireland Long Ago
Kevin Danaher

This book is a wonderful work full of the ancient traditions in Ireland, and how those traditions have survived until today. And excellent companion book, if you can get it, is A Year in Ireland by the same author. Unfortunately these books are hard to get outside of the UK, but they are worth a shot! Recommended.

Women of the Celts
Jean Markale

One of the best reads I have had on Celtic History. Markale's writing style make reading about history anything but dull, and the book was well-researched and documented as well. What a treasure! Anyone interested in Celtic history, mythology, feminism, and gender issues with find this a worthwhile addition to their library. Also, check out his latest book, The Celts : Uncovering the Mythic and Historic Origins of Western Culture Highly recommended.

Celtic Tree Mysteries : Secrets of the Ogham
Steve Blamires

This is a good book to learn about the basics of Ogham, although I advise care when reading some of the author's more personal opinions, not to take them as strict fact. Another slightly more academic book which I reccommend is Ogham: An Irish Alphabet . Both of these books are recommended as enrichment, but not as a main source of study. -

The Horse Goddess
Morgan Llewelyn

Although fictional, this book is really what started it all for me. It's a great read not only beause of the plot but because of the setting and spirituality within the story. Because of the author's research into Celtic history, it offers a unique look into "what might have been". And don't forget to look at Morgan Llewelyn's other books (click here) as well! Highly reccomended.

The World of the Druids
Miranda Green

This book is a thourough and impressive work on the Druids as they appear in history, and is easy to read and understand as a beginner or an advanced student of Celtic History. The author clearly unravels the truth behind the druids using an exhaustive list of historical sources and her own informed opinion. I find this book a must-have for any Celtic library. Also, Green's other works, Symbol and Image in Celtic Art, Animals in Celtic Life and Myth, and Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. Highly reccomended.

Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit
Tom Cowan

A lyrical exploration of Shamanism and Celtic tradition that explores various myths, tales, shamanic techniques, and cross-cultural connections. I found this book a very worthwhile read, with good historical references, though a little unclear at times. One of the best books on Celtic Shamanism I have read.

A Bard's Book of Pagan Songs : Stories and Music from the Celtic World
Hugin The Bard

This is a delightful book I first had the chance to read when I was given it as a gift. Music lovers and those not musically inclined will both love it, as it gives not only the music but also the words to many popular pagan songs. There are also some new and old pieces included. Sit down with some friends sometime and explore the tunes found in this great book. Highly recommended. - [Buy It!]

A Circle of Stones : Journeys and Meditations for Modern Celts
Erynn Rowan Laurie

I loved this book! Anyone seriously interested on Celtic Paganim should read this book. There is information and guidance on rituals, altars, approach to the Gods/Goddesses, and the journey through the sacred realms (a key element to Celtic mysticism). Extraordinarily well researched, this book will guide you in exploring your spirituality and further investigating the source material of Celtic Mythology. A must-read. - [Buy It!]

A Guide to Early Irish Law
Fergus Kelly

Anyone interested in learning more about Brehon Law, the ancient law system of the Gaels, will find this book thouroughly informative. It is a bit dry at times, but I found that the knowledge I gained through reading this book was well worth the effort. - [Buy It!]

Isle of Avalon : Sacred Mysteries of Arthur and Glastonbury Tor
Nicholas Mann

This book is one of the select offerings from Llewellyn Publications that I recommend. The author was careful to present his ideas as separate from what is really known, and I found out a great deal of history on the Glasonbury/Avalon area. Though the author went into the more abstracts ideas surrounding Glastonbury area than most readers may care for, I still found it an ejoyable and worthwhile read. Recommended especially for those interested in the ancient Druid and Arthurian mythology that revolves around this historical area. - [Buy It!]

 The World of the Celts by Simon James; 1993
This is an outstanding book that covers a multitude of topics. The text is straightforward, and there are ample illustrations.

The Celts: The People Who Came Out of the Darkness by Gerhard Herm; 1976
One of the most important book on the Celts because of it's ideas about Atlantis and Hyperborea. The English translation is difficult to read, but it is an authoritative work.

The Celts (Peoples of the Past series) by Robin Place; 1977
This is a book targeted at young readers (perhaps 8-12 years old) with short text and plenty of pictures. But it serves as an excellent 20-minute introduction to the Celts for adults as well.

• Celtic Myths and Legends by Charles Squire, Newcastle Publishing (1975)
  Similar to....
• Rolleston Celtic Mythology by Pronsias MacCana, Newness Books
  Includes comparisons with the Gaulish pantheon
• Celtic Mythology & Religionby Alex MacBain (1917) Stirling
• Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race by T.W. Rolleston, 1917
  Mr. Rolleston does not tell the stories of the ancient Celts; rather he tells about them. The stories are presented in capsulized form.
• Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, 1994
  This is sort of a Grimm's Fairy Tales for Celtic countries.
• Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by Peter Berresford Ellis, 1992
  This book's strength is that you can look up any reference to a Celtic place or person and get a concise description.

• Celtic Knotwork by Iain Bain; 1986
  Mr. Bain has produced the very best reference available to artists wishing to reproduce Celtic knotwork patterns. His father, George, wrote a book that describes construction techniques of many Celtic patterns, but it is very difficult to work from.
• Celtic Key Patterns by Iain Bain; 1993
  In this book, Mr. Bain describes the construction of Key Patterns with the same clarity and simplicity that makes Celtic Knotwork so valuable.
• Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction by George Bain; 1973
  The elder Bain shows how the Celts could have drawn their intricate patterns. He covers knotwork, spirals, key patterns, lettering, and zoomorphic designs. Though this book has a wider scope and many more examples than Iain's books, George's methods of construction are more difficult to follow.
• Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times by J. Romilly Allen; 1993
  Both Bains rave about Allen's landmark works that describe the nature and significance of Celtic Art. This book is hard to find, but worth the effort. It shows some methods of construction, but everything is approached from the point of view of an art historian, not an artisan.
• Celtic Mandalas by Courtney Davis, 1994.
  Mr. Davis is a master of combining Celtic patterns with other imagery to produce evocative artwork. His illustrations grace many books on Celtic subjects and a Tarot Deck. His books are filled with great examples that inspire your own creativity and show that the knotwork, spirals, and key patterns invented by the Celts are still relevant today.
• The Lindisfarne Gospels by Janet Backhouse, 1981
  The Lindisfarne Gospels are illuminated manuscripts produced by the monks at the monastery of Lindisfarne. The intricate artwork is distinctly Celtic, but the gospel texts are Christian. Ms. Backhouse does a good job of describing how these two cultures came together to produce the famous manuscript. The illustrations show the fine artwork that went into the Lindisfarne Gospels.
• The Book of Kells by Sir Edward Sullivan,1986
  Sir Sullivan treats the Book of Kells, another illuminated manuscript (produced by the monks at the monastery at Kells), with the same attention that Ms. Backhouse gives the Lindisfarne Gospels.

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