Re: Books of possible interest - druids | Forum

Books of possible interest

more_vert

Branwen Sep 14, 2009 23:54:27

Replying to Littlestone

Littlestone wrote:

Ronald Hutton's latest book, The Druids, "...is the first comprehensive study of what people have thought about the ancient Druids and why. Written in a racy and accessible style,

Ronald Hutton... racy and accessible??? Are you sure??

Must have been sick of the dry and hard going label.

His books are always well researched though, good source books.

moss wrote:

He's a very good writer, saw him at a lecture last year pulling apart the goddess theory; a gentle man is how I would describe him fascinated by his subject. Had some problem with giving the lecture, getting over a brain tumour I think he said, but he said he could'nt hear very well because of it. Which is completely off the subject but Stuart Piggott also wrote a good book entitled "the Druids" 1968 I think which gets back to the subject...

I like Piggott's book, also T D Kendrick's book, no nonsense scholarly works.

coldrumhead wrote:

I'll look out for this.I am currently reading ''Druids:preachers of immortality'' by Anne Ross.

I really like Anne Ross, she's been featuring on the TV program Pagans and Na Ceiltich recently. The book people like least of hers is one I really like, just because she isn't afraid the theorise "Life and Death of a Druid Prince".

Littlestone wrote:

Scarre also reveals new theories concerning Stonehenge, where the surface shaping of some of the stones may have replicated the bark of oak and beech.

Now that really would be of interest to Druids... justifying why people that base their religion on those that orginally worshipped in groves of trees are so obsessed with worshipping in circles of stone....

Authors on Druids I love to hate ... Douglas Munroe.... yeauch

StoneGloves Sep 15, 2009 08:41:22

Replying to Branwen

I've never read about the Druids. My impressions of them are very direct and come from rediscovering lost ancient monuments. So I don't know what the Goddess Theory is. (I can guess). I do have some supporting evidence for the goddess - a stone which is near me - and feel a letter coming on. Neil Young also had a brain tumour removed - he's just got worse ...

moss Sep 15, 2009 11:42:09

Replying to Branwen

'I really like Anne Ross, she's been featuring on the TV program Pagans and Na Ceiltich recently. The book people like least of hers is one I really like, just because she isn't afraid the theorise "Life and Death of a Druid Prince".'

Her book on Pagan Britain is a classic, but there was a counter argument against the 'three death' end of the Lindow Man in the above book, it was said that the cut to the neck could easily have been inflicted by the peat cutter. Think she wrapped up the theory with the fact that the gold torque he wore could also represent a rope; they are often 'woven' in strands of three. It was interesting, given that the other author was a police pathologist. The best person I've read on the bog people was Seamus Heaney's poems on them and he took them from Glob's Scandinavian bog discoveries.....

Littlestone Sep 19, 2009 00:06:43

Replying to Branwen

Ronald Hutton... racy and accessible??? Are you sure??

Accessible certainly - 'racy' open to interpretation.

I walked into a Devizes pub a few years back and Ronald Hutton was sitting there in a corner. We didn't know each other from Adam but he nodded and I joined him for a pint - a nicer fella you'd never hope to meet, and his knowledge of many of the things we're interested in here second to none. Good then to report that Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, announced recently that he's been appointed a Commissioner of English Heritage - http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.16873

At last, someone who has the sense, knowledge and insight to advise English Heritage on the proper conservation and promotion of our heritage!