[Stones] Books of possible interest: The Druids

[Ric]

Hi,

i get the distinct impression from a lot of
contemporary academics that 'the past' cannot be
vouched for - that it is all 'romanticism' and
embarrassingly unobjective?

it's a purview i resist - and i feel, an unconscious,
ironic attempt to undermine anything which seeks to
subvert or challenge established 'history'

arguably, that brings us to something like an
Orwellian 1984 concept of the past - politically, this
is an attractive proposition -  where everything is
forever fixed and nothing changes? 

i will no doubt read Hutton's book with interest and
continue to put my faith and focus in field study, 
place-names, comparative mythology, etymology,
folklore and archaeology; rather than in the latest
'in' philosophy of the past

bests

Ric


--- littlestone <littlestone at supanet.com> wrote:

> Ronald Hutton's latest book, The Druids, "...is the
> first comprehensive study of what people have
> thought about the ancient Druids and why. Written in
> a racy and accessible style, it is essential reading
> for everyone interested in exploring our mysterious
> past. Most books written on the Druids hitherto have
> been by archaeologists specialising in the Iron Age,
> who have occupied a great deal of space trying to
> find things to say about the 'original' ancient
> priesthood. Most have then devoted a final section
> of their books to people who have called themselves
> Druids since 1700 - until recently with contemptuous
> dismissal. Hutton's contention is that the sources
> for the ancient Druids are so few and unreliable
> that almost nothing certain can be said about them.
> Instead, he reverses the traditional balance of
> interest to look at the many ways in which Druids
> have been imagined in Britain since 1500, and what
> this tells us about modern and early modern society.
> In the process, he achieves many new insights into
> the development of British national identities,
> established and 'alternative' religions, literary
> culture, fraternal organisation and protest
> movements. He also suggests new ways in which the
> discipline of archaeology can be perceived - which
> will delight some practitioners and enrage others."*