The Druids: The History and Mystery of the Ancient Celtic Priests

By: Charles River Editors, Jesse Harasta

Narrated by: Phillip J. Mather

"Throughout all of Gaul there are two classes of people who are treated with dignity and honor. This does not include the common people, who are little better than slaves and never have a voice in councils. Many of these align themselves with a patron voluntarily, whether because of debt or heavy tribute or out of fear of retribution by some other powerful person. Once they do this, they have given up all rights and are scarcely better than servants. The two powerful classes mentioned above are the Druids and the warriors. Druids are concerned with religious matters, public and private sacrifices, and divination." (Julius Caesar)

The Celts are one of the most well-known groups in Europe and one of the least understood. Depending on which classifications are used, the Celts are also one of the oldest civilizations in Europe. In the centuries before Christ, the Celts were spread out across much of continental Europe, and though they are mostly identified with Gaul, evidence suggests they also spread as far as Portugal. However, even though they were spread out across Europe before the height of the Roman Empire, most people associate the Celts with the British Isles today, particularly Ireland and Scotland.

After they had been relegated to those smaller regions as a result of the Romans and other migrations, the culture of the Celts as it is currently understood began to congeal during the Early Middle Ages, and Celtic culture, folklore, and legend have all become inextricably intertwined with Irish history and British history as a whole.

The Celts have fascinated people for centuries, and the biggest fascination of all has been over the Druids.

©2012- Charles River Editors (P)2015 Charles River Editors

Good introduction

This is a well written introduction to the subject. the narration was also good. I enjoyed it.

Interesting and informative

Would you consider the audio edition of The Druids: The History and Mystery of the Ancient Celtic Priests to be better than the print version?

Yes

Have you listened to any of Phillip J. Mather’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have - it as good . . . . I read a comment elsewhere describing his delivery as that of a favoured professor delivering a lecture - I wish that I'd thought of saying that

Any additional comments?

Interesting book-horrible narrative

While I enjoyed the research done, this is one of those books I wish I had just read rather than gotten it narrated. The narrator has a horrible monotone to his reading that made it so difficult to follow.

Ok

The narration was a little hard for me to understand. It took a moment for my ears to understand what words he was saying. Overall a good book

Interesting book but....

An interesting book but the reader sounded like a stuffy butler and was somewhat monotonous.
I'm glad it was a short book.

the facts are interesting

The narrator Was a bit dry but it was short enough so can't complain much

Very interesting peek into Celtic Druids

Well paced history, with lots of insight into the impact the Roman Empire had on the Celts. Impressed with the speaker!

Very Interesting

An authentic voice to read. Mr. Mather's narration made the book more powerful and more impactful.

A lost opportunity

This course is disappointing. It is highly repetitive. The reader speaks too fast. Mostly about the Celts. Little about Druids.

Short but interesting

The author takes some liberties on promoting certain speculations to de facto truths, but all in all it's am interesting read.