Basic Celtic Studies Reading List
* indicates books to start with.
Chadwick, Nora, The Celts (Penguin, Middlesex 1985)
*Cross, Tom Peete and Clark Harris Slover, Ancient Irish Tales (Barnes &
Noble, Totowa NJ 1988 reprint of 1936 edition)
*Cunliffe, Barry, The Celtic World : An Illustrated History of the Celtic
Race, Their Culture, Customs and Legends (Greenwich House, NY 1986)
*Davidson, HR Ellis, Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe : Early
Scandinavian and Celtic Religions (Syracuse University Press, Syracuse
1988)
de Santillana, Giorgio and Hertha von Dechend, Hamlet's Mill : An Essay
Investigating the Origins of Human Knowledge and its Transmission
Through Myth 2ed (David R. Godine, Boston 1983)
Dillon, Myles, Early Irish Literature (University of Chicago Press, Chicago
1948)
Evans-Wentz, WY, The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries (Citadel Press, NY
1990)
*Ford, Patrick K, The Mabonogi and Other Welsh Medieval Tales
(University of California Press, Berkeley 1977)
*Gantz, Jeffrey, Early Irish Myths and Sagas (Penguin, London 1988)
*Green, Miranda, The Gods of the Celts (Barnes & Noble, Totowa NJ 1986)
Hutton, Ronald, The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles : Their
Nature and Legacy (Blackwell, Oxford 1991)
Kinsella, Thomas, The Tain (University of Philadelphia Press, Philadelphia
1985)
Littleton, C. Scott, The New Comparative Mythology : An Anthropological
Assessment of the Theories of Georges Dumzil, 3ed (University of
California Press, Berkeley 1982)
*MacCana, Proinsias, Celtic Mythology (Hamlyn, London 1970)
*McNeill, F. Marian, The Silver Bough (Cannongate, Edinburgh 1989)
Merrifield, Ralph, The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic (New Amsterdam
Books, NY 1988)
*Nagy, Joseph Falaky, The Wisdom of the Outlaw : The Boyhood Deeds of
Finn in Gaelic Narrative Tradition (University of California Press, Berkeley
1985)
O'Driscoll, Robert ed. The Celtic Consciousness (George Braziller, MY
1987)
*Piggot, Stuart, The Druids (Thames & Hudson, NY 1986)
*Rees, Alwyn and Brinley, Celtic Heritage : Ancient Tradition in Ireland
and Wales (Thames & Hudson, NY 1989)
*Rolleston, TW, Celtic Myths and Legends (Avenel Books, NY 1986)
Ross, Anne, Pagan Celtic Britain : Studies in Iconography and Tradition
(Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1967)
Ross, Anne, The Pagan Celts (Barnes & Noble, Totowa NJ 1986) formerly
Everyday Life of the Pagan Celts
Sjoestedt, Marie-Louise, Gods and Heroes of the Celts (Turtle Island
Foundation, Berkeley 1982)
*Skelton, Robin and Margaret Blackwood, Earth, Air, Fire, Water : Pre-
Christian and Pagan Elements in British Songs, Rhymes and Ballads
(Arkana, London 1990)
Wood-Martin, W. G., Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland : A Folklore
Sketch : A Handbook of Irish Pre-Christian Traditions (Longmans, Green &
Co, London 1902) 2 vols
---------------------------end quoted text------------------------------
(2) from Ian Paul Foot :
--------------------------begin quoted text-----------------------------
"Pagan Celtic Britain", Anne Ross. Fairly dry and academic, though
well researched and full of useful information.
"Mythology of the British Isles", Geoffrey Ashe. A lovely book, full
of myth, analysis and pictures, it works well as either a serious
reference work or a dip-in coffee table book. Highly recommended.
"Celtic Myths and Legends", T.W.Rolleston. A classic book on Celtic
mythology, written around 90 years ago and available in cheap
facsimile editions. Contains shortened version of many of the myths.
"The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries", W.Y.Evans-Wentz. Another
classic work on the beliefs of the Celts. It contains a vast amount
of information about what the celts actually believed and how their
old pagan religion co-existed alongside Christianity as the "Fairy
Faith".
"The Fairy Tradition in Britain", Lewis Spence. This is a rare book
which really should be reprinted. Similar to the above and highly
recommended if you can find a copy [unlikely].
"A Dictionary of Faires", Katherine Briggs. A *really useful* and
entertaining book dealing with British (esp. celtic) lore. Look
up "Taghairm", 'the most horrible of all recorded magical spells' as
practised by Scottish witches [don't try this one at home].
"The White Goddess", Robert Graves. Hugely influential and
controversial book, which has contributed to much of modern paganism
(both Wicca and Druidry). Highly recommended but don't treat it all
as literal truth, rather "poetic inspiration". IMHO, a "must read"
for anybody following a goddess/celtic path, even if you don't agree
with it!
Other books, I've been recommended but haven't read yet...
"The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles", Ronald Hutton.
"Dr. Ron" is the youngest ever fellow of the Royal Historical Society
and something of a cult-hero(!) with British pagans. Some comments I
have heard from friends about him in the last few weeks include "he's
mega-wonderful", "he's a saint(!)" and "he's the best ambassador Wicca
has got". It's great to have someone like him on our side.
"Hedgewitch", Rae Beth. Lots of people have recommended this to me,
but I'm suggesting it because I met Rae in Avebury on Sunday for a
ritual of reconciliation between pagans and christians. I was
chatting to her in the pub afterwards and she's such a lovely person,
I've just got to recommend her book!
Hope this helps.
Ian
---------------------------end quoted text------------------------------
(3) from Shay :
--------------------------begin quoted text-----------------------------
_Celtic Gods Celtic Goddesses_ by R.J. Stewart. Stewart wrote and
designed my tarot deck. He is a composer and a writer. His books
include two volumes on the medieval Merlin texts and studies of magical
tradition in folklore. I haven't read his Merlin texts, but I've also
never heard anyone impune his scholarship (as is the case with DJ
Conway). This book is beautifully illustrated by Miranda Gray, the woman
who also illustrated the Merlin Tarot. The back cover says: Stewart
takes a penetrating and detailed look at the mythology, magic and
religion of the Celts and examines their enduring strengths and their
continued relevence. ... examination of the complex and fluid
relationship between the gods as people, as symbols of nature and as
sacred powers..... ISBN 0-7137-2113-8 $14.95.
_The Serpent and the Goddess, Women, Religion and Power in Celtic
Ireland_ by Mary Condren. This book moves back and forth between my
religion shelf and my feminism shelf, I just can't pigeonhole it to
either one. Condren recounts many Irish legends (Macha and the Curse of
the Men of Ulster is just one) and looks at the rise of Christianity,
politics of Ireland etc. ISBN0-06-250156-9 $13.95.
---------------------------end quoted text------------------------------
(4) from Jaguar , citing the ADF Study Program:
--------------------------begin quoted text-----------------------------
Suggested Readings
Following is some recommended reading on Druidism Ancient
and Modern, and associated topics. This is a very brief
list, and admittedly quite heavily weighted in the Celtic
direction. The ADF Study Program Guide is an excellent
source for additional suggestions in other areas. The books
below and those in the Study Program Guide are considered to
be of sound scholarship, which is not true of much of what
has been published about the Druids. You'll notice that
most of the publication dates are relatively recent. This
is because up until the 1950's research into the Druids was
heavily influenced by a couple of hundred years of
publication which ranged from mere inaccuracy to pure
fantasy. It is only within the last 40 years or so that
scholars have begun to tease out a clearer understanding of
who and what the Druids really were.
'The Druids', Stuart Piggott. Thames and Hudson, London,
1975. ISBN 0-500-27363-4
'In Search of the Indo-Europeans', J.P. Mallory. Thames and
Hudson, London, 1989 ISBN 0-500-27616-1
'Legends of the Celts', Frank Delaney. Sterling Publishing,
NY, 1989 ISBN 0-8069-8350-7
'Life and Death of a Druid Prince', Ann Ross and Don Robins.
Touchtone, NY, 1989 ISBN 0-671-74122-5
'The Celtic World', Barry Cunliffe. Greenwich House, NY,
1979. ISBN 0-517-61530-9
'The Mabinogion'. (Welsh mythology, several translations)
'Women of the Celts', Jean Markale. Inner Traditions
International, Vermont, 1972. ISBN 0-89281-150-1
'Thracian Tales on the Gundestrop Cauldron', Flemming Kaul,
Ivan Marazov, Jan Best, Nanny deVries. Najade Press, Amsterdam, 1991. ISBN 90
'Celtic Heritage', Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees. Thames and
Hudson, NY, 1961. ISBN 0-500-27039-2
'Celtic Borders; Copywrite-Free Celtic Art', Mallory Pearce.
Dover Publications, NY, 1993. ISBN 0-486-27797-6
'Comparative Mythology', Jaan Puhvel. Johns Hopkins
University Press, Baltimore and London, 1987. ISBN
0-8018-3938-6
'Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art', Miranda Green.
Routledge, London and NY, 1989. ISBN 0-415-08076-2
'Celtic Myths', Miranda Green. British Museum Press and
University of Texas Press, Austin, 1993. ISBN 0-29272-754-2
'Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend', Miranda Green.
Thames and Hudson, London, 1992. ISBN 0-500-01516-3
'Real Magic', Isaac Bonewits. Samuel Weiser, Inc, Maine,
1989. ISBN 0-87728-688-4
Last revised: June 1994
---------------------------end quoted text------------------------------
(5) from Lone Star / Val LS : [reformatted by Raven]
--------------------------begin quoted text-----------------------------
Celtic reading list I pulled from PODSnet Wicca a couple of years ago:
By: Rowan Moonstone
UPDATED 6 JULY 1991
*** Marks especially good books. Read these FIRST!! Keep in mind,
this is simply a listing of the books that I have found useful.
Question everything.
A.E.(GEORGE RUSSELL); "The Candle of Vision", Quest Books,
Theosophical Pub. 1975
ALFORD, VIOLET; "The Hobbyhorse & Other Animal Masks", Merlin Press 1978
AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOR IRISH STUDIES; "Guide to Irish Studies in
the U.S.A." 1987
*** ANWYL, EDWARD; "Celtic Religion in Pre-christian Times", Archibald
Constable & Co. 1906 ***
ARTOS, ALLEN; "Arthur, The King of Light", Lorien House 1986
ASHE, GEOFFREY; "The Ancient Wisdom", London 1977
BAIN, GEORGE; "Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction", Dover Pub. 1973
BARBER, CHRIS; "Mysterious Wales", Paladin Press 1983
BOASE, WENDY; "Folklore of Hampshire & the Isle of Wight", Rowman
& Littlefield 1976
BONWICK, JAMES; "Irish Druids and Old Irish Religion", Arno Press 1976
*** BORD, JANET & COLIN; "The Secret Country", Grenada 1978 ***
*** BORD, JANET & COLIN; "Mysterious Britain", Grenada 1974 ***
*** BORD, JANET & COLIN; "Earth Rites", Grenada 1983 ***
*** BORD, JANET & COLIN; "Sacred Waters", Paladin Books 1986 ***
BREFFNY, BRIAN DE, ed.; "Ireland, A Cultural Encyclopaedia", Thames
& Hudson 1983
BREFFNY, BRIAN DE; " The Irish World", Thames & Hudson 1986
BRIGGS, KATHERINE; "Abbey Lubbers, Banshees, & Boggarts", Pantheon 1979
BRIGGS, KATHERINE; "Nine Lives; Cats in Folklore", Rudledge & Kegen
Paul 1980
BROWN, PETER, ed. & selected by; "Book of Kells", Alfred A. Knopf 1980
CAMPBELL, J.F. & GEORGE HENDERSON; "The Celtic Dragon Myth",
Newcastle Pub. 1981
CARMICHAEL, ALEXANDER; "Celtic Invocations", Vineyard 1972
CASTLEDEN, RODNEY; "The Wilmington Giant", Turnstone 1983
CHADWICK, NORA; "The Celts", Pelician 1970
CHANT,JOY; "The High Kings", Bantam 1983
CHMELOVA, ELENA; "Celtic Tales", Exeter Books 1982
CLARE, T.; "Archelogical Sites of Devon & Cornwall", Moorland Pub. 1982
COGHLAN, RONAN; "Dictionary of Irish Myth and Legend", Donard Press 1979
COHANE, JOHN PHILLIP; "The Key", Crown Pub. 1969
COLLUM, PADRAIG; "Treasury of Irish Folklore", Crown Pub. 1967
COLLUM, PADRAIC; "Treasury of Irish Folklore", rev. ed. Killenny
Press 1967
COLLUM, PADRAIC; "The King of Ireland's Son", McMillian & sons 1933
CONWAY, D.J.; "Celtic Magic", Llewellyn Pub. 1990
COOKE, GRACE & IVAN; "The Light in Britain", White Eagle Pub. Trust 1983
COSMAN, MADELEINE, PELNER; "Medieval Holidays and Festivals",
Charles Scribmer & Sons 1981
CROSSLEY-HOLLAND, KEVIN, ed.; "Mabon of the Mabinogion", Thorsen
Pub. 1984
*** CUNLIFFE, BARRY; "The Celtic World", McGraw Hill MCMLXXIX ***
CURTAIN, JEREMIAH; "Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland", Dover Books 1975
DAMES, MICHAEL; "The Avebury Cycle", Thames & Hudson 1977 ***
*** DANAHER, KEVIN; "The Year in Ireland", (Leinster Leader, Ltd. 1972)
Mercier Press 1972 ***
DANIEL, GLYN & PAUL BAHN; "Ancient Places - The Prehistoric &
Celtic Sites of Britian", Constable 1987
DAVIDSON, THOMAS; "Rowan Tree and Red Thread", Edinburgh 1949
DAVIES, EDWARD; "The Mythology and Rites of the British Druids",
J. Booth 1809
DELANEY, FRANK; "The Celts", Little Brown & Co. 1986
DILLON, MYLES; "Early Irish Literature", U. of Chicago Press 1948
DINNENN, REV. PATRICK S.; "Irish- English Dictionary", Irish Textes
Society 1927
DUGGAN, COLM; "Treasures of Irish Folklore", Mercantile Marketing
Consultants, Ltd. 1983
DYER, JAMES; "The Penguin Guide To Prehistoric England & Wales",
Penguin Books
*** EVANS-WENTZ, W. Y.; "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries",
University Books 1966 ***
FELL, BARRY; "America, B.C.", Wallaby Books 1976
FITZPATRICK, JIM; "The Silver Arm", Paper Tiger Press 1981
FITZPATRICK, JIM; "The Book of Conquests", E.P. Dutton 1978
FLOWER, ROBIN; "The Irish Tradition", Clarendon Press 1947/1978
FORDE, JOHNSTON J.; "Prehistoric Britian & Ireland", W.W. Norton
& Co. 1976
FRAZIER, SIR JAMES GORDON; "The Golden Bough", (The Macmillan
Company, 1951) Avenel 1981
FRENCH, J.M.F.; "Prehistoric Faith and Worship", London 1912
FROUD, BRIAN & ALAN LEE; "Faeries", Harry M. Abrams 1978
GANTZ, JEFFERY; "Early Irish Myths & Sagas", Penquin 1982
GERALD OF WALES; "The History & Topography of Ireland", Penquin 1982
GLASSIE, HENRY; "Irish Folk History", U. of Pennsylvannia Press 1982
GREGORY, LADY AUGUSTA; "Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland",
Colin Smythe 1920/1979
*** GREGORY, LADY AUGUSTA; "Gods and Fighting Men of the Celts", John
Murray 1913 ***
GUARD, DAVID, "Dierdre: A Celtic Legend", Celestial Arts 1977
HERM, GERHARD; "The Celts", St. Martin's Press 1975
HIGGINS, GODFREY; "Celtic Druids", Philosohpical Research Society 1977
HOPE, MURRY; "Practical Celtic Magic", Aquarian Press 1987
IRISH TEXTES SOCIETY; "Poems of Egan O'Rahilly", Rev. P.S. Dinnenn
& T.O. Donough 1966
IRISH TEXTES SOCIETY; "Duanaine Finn", Vol VII, part 1, ed. &
trans. Eoin MacNeil
IRISH TEXTES SOCIETY; Keating, "History of Ireland, Vol 1-4, 1902/1987
IRISH TEXTES SOCIETY; "Adventures of Suibhne Geilt", ed. & trans.
J.G. O'Keefe 1913
IRISH TEXTES SOCIETY; "Poems on the Marcher Lords", ed. Anne
O'Sullivan & Padrain O'Riain 1987
*** IRISH TEXTES SOCIETY; "Labor Gabala Erenn", parts 1-4, Trans.
R.A.S. MacAlister 1941 ***
JACKSON, KENNETH HURLSTONE; "A Celtic Miscellany", Penguin 1980
JACKSON, KENNETH HURLESTONE; "The Oldest Irish Tradition; A Window
on the Iron Age", Cambridge 1964
JACOBS, JOSEPH; "Celtic Fairy Tales", Dover 1963
*** JONES, GWYN & THOMAS; "The Mabinogion", Dragon's Dream 1982 ***
*** JOYCE, P.W.; "Social History of Ancient Ireland", Vol 1 & 2
Benjamin Blum Pub. 1968 ***
KERR, MILDRED L., HARNES, ELIZABETH & ROSS, FRANCES; "Giants &
Fairies", Charles E. Merrill Co. 1946
*** KINSELLA, THOMAS; "The Tain", Oxford Univ. Press 1969 ***
KNEIGHTLY, THOMAS; "The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves, and
Other Little People", Avenel Press 1978
KNIGHT, GARETH; "The Secret Tradition in Arthurian Legend",
Aquarian Press 1983
KRUTA, VENCESLAS & VERNER FORMAN; "The Celts of the West", Orbis 1985
LEAMY, EDMUND; "Golden Spears", Desmond Fitzgerald 1911
LEHMANN, RUTH P.M.; "Early Irish Verse", University of Texas Press 1982
LOGAN, PATRICK; "The Old Gods", Apple Tree Press 1981
LONSDALE, STEVEN; "Animals & the Origin of the Dance", Thames &
Hudson 1982
LUCY, SEAN; "Love Poems of the Irish", Mercier Press 1977
*** MACALISTER, R.A.S.; "Tara; A Pagan Sanctuary of Ancient Ireland",
Charles Schribner & Sons 1931 ***
MACCANA, PROINSIAS; "Celtic Mythology", Hamlyn Pub. 1970
MACCULLOCH, JOHN ARNOTT; "Religion of the Ancient Celts", Folcroft
Library, 1977rep.
MACCULLOCH, JOHN ARNOTT; "The Mythology of all Races in Thirteen
volumes; Celtic, Volume III.", Cooper Square Pub. 1967
MACLENNAN, MALCOLM; "A Promouncing & Emtylogical Dictionary of the
Gaelic Language", (Scots Gaelic) Aberdeen Univ. Press 1979
MACMANUS, SEUMAS; "The Story of the Irish Race", Devin-Adair Co. 1981
*** MACNEILL, MAIRE; "The Festival of Lughnasa", Oxford, 1962 ***
MARKALE, JEAN; "Women of the Celts", Inner Traditions Int'l Ltd. 1986
MARRIS, RUTH; "The Singing Swans & Other Irish Stories", Fontana
Lions 1978
MARSH, HENRY; "Dark Age Britain", Dorset Press 1970
MATTHEWS, CAITLIN; "The Elements of The Goddess", Element Books 1989
MATTHEWS, CAITLIN; "The Elements of The Celtic Tradition", Element
Books 1989
McNEIL, F. MARTIN; "The Silver Bough, Vol 1.: Scottish Folklore &
Beliefs", Cannon Gate Classic 1956/1989
O'BRIEN, CHRISTIAN; "The Megalithic Odyssey", Turnstone 1983
O'CONNOR, FRANK; "Short History of Irish Literature", Capricorn
Books 1967
O'CONNOR, NORREYS; "Battles & Enchantments", Books for Libraries
Press 1922/1970
O'DRISCOLL, ROBERT; "The Celtic Consciousness", George Braziller 1982
O'SULLIVAN, DONALD; "Carolan: The Life & Times & Music of an Irish
Harper", Vol 1 & 2, Celtic Music 1983
PEPPERS & WILCOCK; "A Guide to Magical & Mystical Sites - Europe
& the British Isles", Harper Colophon Books 1977
POWELL, T.G.E.; "The Celts", Thames & Hudson 1980
QUILLER, PETER & COURTNEY DAVIS; "Merlin, The Immortal", Spirit of
Celtia 1984
*** REES, ALWEN & BRINLEY; "Celtic Heritage", Oxford 1971 ***
RHYS, JOHN; "Celtic Folklore, Welsh & Manx, Vol.I"
ROLLESTON, T.W.; "Myths & Legends - Celtic", Avenel Press 1985
*** ROSS, ANNE; "Pagan Celtic Britian", Rudledge & Kegen Paul 1967 ***
*** ROSS, ANNE, & DON ROBBINS; "The Life & Death of A Druid Prince",
Summit 1989 ***
RUTHERFORD, WARD; "Celtic Mythology", Aquarian Press 1987
*** RUTHERFORD, WARD; "The Druids, Magicians of the West", Aquarian
Press 1978 ***
SEYMOUR, ST. JOHN; "Irish Witchcraft and Demonology", 1913
SHARKEY, JOHN; "Celtic Mysteries", Thames & Hudson 1975/1987
*** SJOESTEDT, MARIE-LOUISE; "Gods and Heroes of the Celts", Methven
& Co. Ltd. 1949 ***
SMITH, LESLEY M.; "The Dark Age: The Making of Britian", Schocker
Books 1984
SPENCE, LEWIS; "The Minor Traditions of British Mythology", Rider
& Co. 1948
SPENCE, LEWIS; "The Magic Arts in Celtic Britain", Anchor Press
SPENCE, LEWIS; "British Fairy Origins", Aquarian Press 1946
*** SQUIRE, CHARLES; "Celtic Myth & Legend, Poetry & Romance",
Newcastle 1975 ***
STEWART, R.J.; "Book of Merlin", Blandford Press 1988
STEWART, R.J., ed.; "Merlin & Woman", Blandford Press 1988
STEWART, R.J.; "Mystic Life of Merlin", Arcana Press 1986
STEWART, R.J.; "The Underworld Tradition", Aquarian Press 1985
*** SUTHERLAND, ELISABETH; "Ravens & Black Rain", Corgi Books 1985 ***
THURNEYSON; "Old Irish Reader", Dublin Institut for Advanced
Studies 1968
*** TOULSON, SHIRLEY; "The Winter Solstice", Jill Norman & Hobhouse
1981 ***
*** WHITE, CAROLYN; "A History of Irish Fairies", Mercier Press 1976 ***
WHITLOCK, RALPH; "In Search of Lost Gods", Phaidon Press 1979
WILDE, LADY; "Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, & Superstitions of
Ireland With Sketches of the Irish Past" Chatto & Windus 1925
WILLIAMS, GWYNN A.; "Madoc, The Legend of the Welsh Discovery of
America", Oxford Univ. Press 1987
*** WILLIAMSON, JOHN; "The Oak King, the Holly King & the Unicorn",
Harper & Row 1974 ***
*** WOOD-MARTIN, W. G.; "Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland, Vols
1 & 2", Kennicat Pub. 1902/1970 ***
YEATS, W.B.; "Fairy & Folktales of Ireland", Pan Books 1882 & 1882/1973
YEATS, W.B. & LADY GREGORY; "Irish Myth, Legend, & Folklore",
Avenel Press 1986
YOUNG, ELLA; "The Wondersmith and His Son", David McKay Co. 1927
You might start with the bibliography in the back of Pattalee's book.
Also check out Anwyn & Brinley Rees's "Celtic Heritage", Lewis
Spence's "Magick Arts in Celtic Britain" is also a good one as is
his "Minor Traditions of British Mythology." Happy Hunting.
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