- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Constable; 1st edition (30 Sep 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 009476560X
- ISBN-13: 978-0094765603
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.6 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,420,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Starting with Boadicea, one of the most powerful, historical Celtic female figures, Ellis highlights basic questions such as whether women had equal status and equal rights of inheritance in Celtic society.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a great fan of the Sister Fidelma mysteries by the same author under a psuedonym, and as a trained historian, not to mention an ardent feminist, I was curious to read Professor Ellis' justification for the background information in the mysteries, and was not disappointed. The book has what seems to be a comprehensive catalogue of sources and known facts on the various early Celtic cultures. Ellis' central conclusion that it was the interaction with Roman Christianity that undermined the high status of early Celtic women will no doubt create many a heated argument in academic circles for years to come. Good for him!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Good resource, but plagued by Ellis' typical downfalls...
14 Jun 2000
Format:Paperback
While Ellis' "Celtic Women" is the best book I have yet read on the subject, it suffers from peculiar inconsistencies, as well as the author's tendency to disregard or dismiss evidence which contradicts his thesis. This work is definitely preferable to Jean Markale's book of the same title, as Ellis seems to be more of a scholar and less of a mystic. Ellis focuses on material from the Classical authors, native Celtic law texts, and vernacular works of literature and history in painting a vivid picture of the many roles of Celtic women and Celtic female divinities. This work is not without flaws, however, for one must ask, would a book about Celtic men include an overview of Celtic male gods? Female divinities are also prominent in Greek mythology, but I find the argument that the stature of goddesses reflects the status of women in the culture which worships them to be, at best, highly speculative. While there is definitely evidence that women could attain high social positions in Cletic societies, Mr. Ellis seems to gloss over the fact that ruling queens and influential female Brehons (judges) were notable exceptions to the rule. In addition, while there is much material introduced from native law regarding women's rights to property and divorce, nothing is said concerning women's rights to child custody. The reader is left to wonder whether nothing is said in these law texts about such an important and revealing point as a woman's right to her own children, or if the author considered it to be of no importance. As a woman, I would love to look to the Celts as an example of the "original egalitarian model" that the book's jacket claims, but as a scholar I feel that Mr. Ellis overstates his case, a failing of many of his otherwise fine works. Perhaps more disturbing, there are sections of the book that strike a strangely discordant note in view of the overall theme. For instance, Mr. Ellis devotes an entire chapter (out of 10) to the subject of personal adornment. In this chapter, he discusses not only the costume and adornments of women, but of men as well. Does this suggest a view on the part of the author that the whole subject of dress is a concern specific to women, or is this material introduced solely by way of comparison? While I would recommend this book as being the best available on the subject, I believe that a truly 5 star book on Celtic women has not yet been written.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Celtic Women - Strong Women
7 April 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Peter Berresford Ellis reveals the important role Celtic women played in their society in his book, "Celtic Women: Women in Celtic Society & Literature." Using historical documents, Ellis offers evidence that women in Celtic society had rights that were protected by law to own property, to choose who and when they wanted to marry, to divorce if they wanted and to take with them the property they owned prior to marriage, as well as half of the property held with their husband (after a certain period of time). The women of the Ancient Celts fought in battles, and trained young warriors. They could be rulers, priests, doctors and lawyers. Ellis reveals how all of these rights granted to Celtic women gradually changed after the introduction of Christianity by the Roman priests. Well written and documented, Ellis makes the history of the Ancient Celts, particularly women, very interesting reading.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Mixing fact and fiction
20 Feb 2005
Format:Paperback
Ellis makes interesting points, but seems very uncritical in his use of mythology in a way that's been debunked in Celtic studies for decades. If you want a much more compelling analysis of the real roles of Celtic women at least in early Irish society, I'd suggest *Isle of Women* by Lisa Bitel.
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