Living in the age of the internet, I’m eternally grateful for the volume of information and research material that’s available. However, I was born in the 70s, the age of libraries and the Dewey Decimal System. Books, especially history books, are a hard habit to break—at least for me.
To say my personal library has grown somewhat over the years would be an understatement. Many hours have been spent perusing the shelves at my local thrift stores, and I’ve found some treasures you’d have to pry out of my cold, dead hands. But if there is one downside, beyond an ever-expanding need for shelf space, it’s that it takes a bit of research to find out which books are worth buying.
Over the years, I’ve found a few that I use often, both for research and just for inspiration. The following are my favourite references when writing about the Bronze Age/Celtic Europe:
Archaeology and Anthropology
The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe, by Barry Cunliffe
- An excellent reference that covers prehistory right up to the end of the Late Bronze Age. The author then discusses the implications on later centuries. Total time period covered is 700,000 BC to 700 AD. It’s a scholarly textbook with a detailed history of how the early civilizations and peoples migrated, inter-mingled, and traded. It also includes photos and illustrations of ancient artifacts, tools, artwork etc. It’s a fantastic source of the archaeological perspective on ancient European civilizations.
Iron Age Communities in Britain (4th Edition), by Barry Cunliffe
- Much like the book above, this is a scholarly/archaeological textbook with a focus on England, Scotland, and Wales. Covering the 7th century BC to the Roman Conquest around 43 AD, it includes fewer photos, but does have detailed maps, diagrams, and illustrations. It’s an excellent in-depth look at the individual Celtic tribes that existed during this era, as well as settlement patterns, art, economy, warfare, and how these societies changed over time.
The Human Past, Edited by Chris Scarre
- This textbook covers the entirety of ancient civilizations from all over the world, and so the section on Holocene Europe is only one short chapter. However, it’s an easy read that covers how the Mesolithic peoples evolved from the end of the Ice Age up to the beginning of the Celtic period. It includes a nice timeline of the Neolithic – Iron Age, grouped by region. I always find myself wondering about the origin of the Ancient Celts, and this book has a nice overview of their ancestors.
Mythology, Mysteries, and Folklore
Ancient Mysteries, by Peter James and Nick Thorpe
- Published in 1998, some of the information is a bit outdated, but I enjoy this book because it attempts to provide scientific explanations for topics such as: lost lands and catastrophes, ancient astronomy, architectural wonders (including Stonehenge), earth patterns (the Glastonbury Spiral), the Arthurian Legends, and the myth of Avalon. For me, when writing fictional history, I want to explain the mysteries, not rewrite the science. This book is a quick guide to generally accepted evidence-based theories.
Myths and Legends of Britain and Ireland, by Richard Jones and John Mason
- This is more of a coffee table book than an in-depth reference, but it has beautiful photographs, and the myths are well organized by location. Each chapter discusses a particular place, such as Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, or Scotland and Ireland. The majority of the book focuses on areas in Britain, and though not limited to ancient times, it explains the history and legends associated with historical buildings, locations, and archaeological sites.
The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, by Patricia Monaghan
- This is an excellent reference, and it includes a nice introduction to the study of Celtic Myths and Folklore. The encyclopedic entries are alphabetical and include gods, goddesses, figures, places, etc., and most useful when you have something specific to lookup. Though the entries are short, they offer a good summary of each topic.
The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World: Unlocking the Secrets of Past Civilizations, Edited by Brian M. Fagan
- Whenever I need ideas for topics to write about, I often find myself referring to this book. Published in 2001, much of the information is still accurate. It covers a surprising number of ancient mysteries and attempts to uncover the hidden truths behind them. Topics include myths, legends, Stone Age mysteries, ancient civilizations, tombs and lost treasures, and the fall of civilizations. The author also includes a bunch of photographs and illustrations.
General
The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events, by Bernard Grun
- There is no in-depth information here, and the book was published in 1979, so it is missing newer information. It’s simply one big timeline of major events, people, and achievements. It covers history/politics, literature/theatre, religion/philosophy/learning, visual arts, music, science/technology/growth, and daily life from 5000 BC to 1978 AD. When I’m writing about a specific era and forget whether one person or event occurred before or after another, this book can be a quick reference.
Lastly, though this isn’t a physical book, no list would be complete without a link to the Sacred Texts website. They claim to be “the largest freely available archive of online books about religion, mythology, folklore, and the esoteric on the internet,” and they have a large volume of books and texts on the Celtic Legends (including translations), categorized by Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall, Manx, Fairies, and General. Many items are no longer in print, and so it’s proved an invaluable resource.
Happy researching and reading!