| Celtic Warrior: 300 BC-AD 100 (Warrior) | 
 enlarge | Author: Stephen Allen
Creator: Wayne Reynolds
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $12.89
You Save: $6.06 (32%)
New (14) Used (7) from $7.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 374114
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 64
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 7 x 0.2
ISBN: 1841761435
Dewey Decimal Number: 941
EAN: 9781841761435
ASIN: 1841761435
Publication Date: April 25, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
In the 1st century BC, Strabo wrote of the Celts: ‘The whole race... is madly fond of war, high-spirited and quick to battle... and on whatever pretext you stir them up, you will have them ready to face danger, even if they have nothing on their side but their own strength and courage’. This book gives an insight into the life of the Celtic warrior, and his experience of battle – on foot, on horseback, and as a charioteer. It also details Celtic society and studies the vital ritual nature of Celtic warfare, from the naked gaesatae to the woad-painted warriors.
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| Customer Reviews:
A good title for the amateur historian or wargamer September 30, 2007
9 out of 14 found this review helpful
Like all Osprey books, this volume is intended to give the reader a basic introduction to the subject, rather than a deep academic understanding. This volume succeeds in that endeavor. The book describes the basic societal structure of the Celtic peoples in the time period addressed, with information on arms and equipment, rituals, approaches to warfare, etc. The color plates are well done.
This particular book does not in any way present a political argument regarding the relative cultural merits of the Celtic peoples versus the Romans, and it is hard to see whay a reviewer would attack it on those grounds. [...]
 Celtic Warrior March 30, 2007
9 out of 14 found this review helpful
This title is a worthy look at the elite of the Iron Age European armies of Gaul and Britain. Though the Celtic warriors were able to inflict some stinging defeats on the Romans and Greeks from the 5th Century BC to the Punic Wars, they proved themselves inable to unite against foreign invaders and were conquered a tribe at a time, first by Germans, then by Julius Caesar and his legions. The author shows how these warriors were defeated not because they lacked in numbers or even in quality weaponry (in these ways they were, if anything, superior to the legions) but because their 'heroic' fighting style held them back. A man who would face Roman legionaries completely naked can be admired for his courage, but nothing else!
This book begins with a trustingly simplistic introduction to the identity of the Celts, and then goes on to give a chronology of major events in their history between the beginning of the Halstatt period and the Construction of Emperor Hadrianus' Wall. The next section tells specifically of the warrior's role in the structure of society, his spirituality, and how he could gain or improve his standing in the tribe. Next, the author gives a description of the appearance, dress, and battle gear of the Celts. After this is 'The Face of Battle' shows how the Celt fought and the Celtic warrior's experience in battle. The final section, 'Aftermath' tells of the warrior's superstitions and the importance of sacrifice, spoils of war, suicide, headhunting, and splendid burial in the warrior's culture. After this comes a brief glossary, biblography, places to visit, a detailed plate commentary, and an index.
As usual, the most recommendable part of this book is the color plates. Though not by Angus McBride, they are beautiful, accurate, detailed, and depict some nasty battle scenes.
Overall, though it has some flaws this book is a good Osprey-style introduction to the cold world of the pre-Migrations era barbarian warrior.
Great source for weapons, armour, tactics, and more! August 31, 2006
4 out of 19 found this review helpful
Great source for weapons, armour, tactics, and more! The color plates inside alone are worth the reason to buy this...But it is also filled with great info and more!
 YAWN! READ PATRICK GEARY'S "MYTH OF NATIONS." February 9, 2006
65 out of 90 found this review helpful
The commentary on the plates are good, but some of the plates seemed almost cartoonish. Certainly not up to Angus McBride's standard.
Their huge numbers, arrogance, rigid individualistic and ritualistic military methods, & their underestimating the dogged Romans ensured their destruction!
The author is another excuse maker who can't accept that "Rome Triumphed against the odds." No one before the 16th century called themselves Celtic! The term was popularized by George Buchanan in the 16th century as was the creation of the term "Celtic Languages."
These various tribal peoples had no permanent victories and rarely if ever were able to win a battle without vastly superior numbers.
Also, their oral traditions prove nothing. How can an oral tradition be taken as authentic history?? "They refused to write their histories down.
Since they were not a singular people with cities as in a CIVILIZATION, one should not be surprised that they rejected literacy" The written histories are largely backed by the archaeological record.
Basically, there is little in this book that is new or insightful.
If you like this topic read Juliette Wood, Miranda Green, & Barry Cunliffe's books.
Celtic Warrior February 15, 2004
10 out of 15 found this review helpful
Yet another great one from Osprey. Great easy to read info and history on the Celtic Warrior from the 300 BC-AD 100 time period and the illustrations are flat out amazing. Highly recomended for anybody interested in the Celts as well as reenactors and SCA types!
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