The Celts cover art

The Celts

A Sceptical History

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The Celts

By: Sir Simon Jenkins
Narrated by: Sir Simon Jenkins
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About this listen

The history of the Celts is the history of a misnomer.

There has never been a distinct people, race or tribe claiming the name of Celtic, though remnants of different languages and cultures remain throughout Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall. The word keltoi first appears in Greek as applied generally to aliens or 'barbarians'—and theories of Celticism continue to fuel many of the prejudices and misconceptions that divide the peoples of the British Isles to this day.

Often seen as unimportant or irrelevant adjuncts to English history, in The Celts Simon Jenkins offers a compelling counterargument. This is a fascinating and timely debate on who the Celts really were—or weren't—and what their legacy should be in an increasingly dis-United Kingdom.

©2022 Simon Jenkins (P)2022 Hachett Audio UK Europe Sociology Western Europe

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All stars
Most relevant  
Not so much about an ancient people but more of a rebalanced history of the British Isles

Surprisingly good

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The pronunciation of Irish words and place names is laughable. I assume the same applies to Welsh and Scots Gaelic.

The arguable accuracy of the later chapters on Ireland make me worry about the earlier ones.

Learn to pronounce non - English words

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Selecting this book in order to learn about Celts, I became somewhat disappointed to find myself deep into a book about the UK. It is a pity that the title was not better chosen and may result in bad reviews from those who like me feel misled. Having said that, it is fortunate indeed that I was not disappointed because Jenkins gives us an excellent account of the State of our Union. He is a most lucid and knowledgeable author and the book is an admirable contribution to this subject, but it should have had a different title.

A surprising success

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Clearing the mythology and rhetoric of certain nationalistic mindsets in a non bias way

fascinating

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I chanced upon a review warning me already that this book is more about the beginnings and continuation of a federate kingdom than anything about the Celts- who don't exist for this author as a group as such with a common origin in the first place. The part I could get through read like a very boring history lesson.

what celts?

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Found this book very interesting and thorough in it description and says of the eastern Celts and the western anglo-saxons.
The history and descriptions of each native people's are fully explained in their political desires, and goes a long way to address the differences.
Fully enjoyed this audio

A very good insight into the United kingdom

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Not about the Celts, it’s a political history of Britain and Ireland justifying the retention of the Union.

Not about the celts

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