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Title: The Quest for the Celtic Key by Ralls-Macleod Karen, Ian Robertson, Karen Ralls-MacLeod ISBN: 1-84282-031-1 Publisher: Luath Press Ltd. Pub. Date: December, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Great Celtic research, very intriguing
Comment: A great combination of reliable, documented sources yet still managing to remain readable and fun, this book was a sheer delight. This book must have taken years to research. Packed with fascinating information (some little known, but true) about the history of Scotland--ranging from the Declaration of Arbroath, Robert the Bruce, the Druids and the Picts, to the Celtic saints, the Stone of Destiny, Masonic and guild traditions and Rosslyn Chapel, it delivers well. The sources and notes 'checked out'--and as I live in Edinburgh, I can say that their knowledge of Scottish history is very good. But they got the mix right, as this book still manages to be readable and fun --perhaps a bit rare for a history book! Would have liked to have seen a bit more on the specific battle strategies of Bannockburn, some descriptions of early Highland weaponry and even more on the Templars or the guilds, but overall this was a fantastic read about so many different aspects of Scotland's past. The Bibliography alone is worth the price of the book. I also thought the Rosslyn Chapel chapter was particularily interesting, as it was also featured in the novel, The Da Vinci Code---but here, you get the FACTS about the place!
Rating: 5
Summary: A Compelling Odyssey!
Comment: A real breath of fresh air--This book is a fascinating compendium of chapters on various aspects of Scottish and Celtic history, each of which could easily stand on their own. Looking for a good read you can also "dip into"? Bored? Intrigued by Scotland, but beyond just clans or "tartan and shortbread"? Want the actual historical facts about Scottish places or people? Read this book!
Everything from the usual subjects like the Declaration of Arbroath, Robert the Bruce, or the Stone of Destiny are included, but here, we also have the occasional topic or subject that has (for whatever reasons) often been "left out" or ignored in previous works on Scottish history. So as readers, we are treated to "the whole story", it seems, but when this is done in this work, the sources do check out and often end up coming from more conventional sources!---but were simply not included in previous books on Scotland. Each chapter is its own separate 'world' and the notes for them are extensive, which I found very helpful
One has to wonder why it took so long for some of these interesting facts about Scottish history to finally come to light. This book offers an especially fresh outlook and the authors should be commended for even attempting a work that combines both the usual and the more unusual factual aspects of history. It is accurate, yet stimulating; academic yet readable--a rather rare combination these days.
Yet most refreshing of all, the authors never make any sensational claims, nor do they exploit what might be called the "Braveheart" factor to sell their work. The reader is ultimately left to decide for themselves, but after having read a great variety of sources. This is a solidly researched book from one end to the other. The footnotes are detailed and the Bibliography is extensive; the Index also had helpful cross-references, in my view. The Introduction is even interesting as well, especially about early printing by Scots in the American colonies.
Throughout this book, the sources come from the usual academic and official records, yet there are also selected, reliable sources from lesser known places, private archives, and so on. Yet when they use sources from legends or folklore, they clearly say so--again, a real breath of fresh air.
The chaper on Rosslyn Chapel is particularily fascinating and detailed, as well as the unusual information about Scottish guilds and masonic history. As Rosslyn is featured in the last two chapters of the Da Vinci Code novel, it was really good to get the actual facts about this site, too. Other interesting tidbits occur throughout this book--for example, I didn't know that some of the very oldest rocks in the world --perhaps the oldest -- are in the Hebrides islands of Scotland, i.e., Lewis! Things like that.
Read this book--highly recommended! A fantastic work--and a much-needed one in today's world of 'hype' and 'sensationalism', especially about Celtic subjects.
Rating: 3
Summary: Not bad...
Comment: I anxiously anticipated this book's arrival.
I devoured it when it arrived. I'm left a bit in the middle on my opinion.
Good points:
It's written in a more personal, easy approach.
Each chapter covers a different subject, things that I've never found in one book all at once. Things like Masonry and such, I had not gotten to yet, their inclusion is definitely interesting.
Theories are presented as such, and our authors leave it up to the reader to decide what they agree with.
I have several books on Celtic studies, and this one still managed to throw in a few things I hadnt read of yet.
I particularly was impressed with the chapter on Saints.
Bad and not too bad points:
I found much extremely redundant. I got the feeling more than once this was to fill the book, make it longer. Which somewhat baffles me as each chapter's subject could and does have numerous books written on each alone.
Personal peeve was the superflous use of certain phrases, which become again, redundant. Used throughout the entire book, sometimes more than once in each paragraph. When you read it, you'll see what I mean. Minor thing, perhaps, but when it becomes annoying it does make it difficult at times to keep reading.
Certain subjects deserve a much deeper treatment, as such some chapters seem a bit shallow. However, it DOES introduce you just enough to peak your interest, and you may research further. I just felt here and there that perhaps this was too ambitious an undertaking for one volume.
To be fair, I believe this was the idea, however. To introduce the reader to all these things and leave it to us to further study. They arent claiming at all to have included all there is to say on these subjects!
Some I wish would have been longer chapters, others shorter. That all depends on which parts interest you the most.
In summation, it's not a bad, nice enough intro to certain things, some chapters I like more than others.
It might be I had expected too much from it..
Just dont buy this expecting in depth studies of each subject. There's what, about 8 being covered here, that again, can each be written extensively on separately.
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Title: The Templars and the Grail: Knights of the Quest by Karen Ralls ISBN: 0835608077 Publisher: Quest Books Pub. Date: May, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language by Umberto Eco ISBN: 0253203988 Publisher: Indiana University Press Pub. Date: July, 1986 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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