Peter Beresford Ellis is the author of over 20 books, including the classic, The Celtic Revolution.
A new edition of this authoritative study of the Celtic world for
the new age in which we have a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh
Assembly, a movement for a Cornish Assembly and the flickerings of
a Northern Irish Government. No longer a story of survival, as much
is now flourishing. And what of the Celtic League? The League was
founded in 1961 but its roots are far older. This book 'is an
entire series of proposals about the past, presented in cohesive
form, to demonstrate the origins, growth and ideas of . . . Pan
Celticism . . .' Further, it is 'an attempt to examine where Pan
Celticism is heading'. This is a substantial book which covers
basic questions such as 'What is a Celt?' and 'Why have a Celtic
League?' On the way we examine such ideas as 'state', 'nation' and
'nationalism'. Later Ellis reviews the current problems and
solutions, up to early 2002, in the Celtic nations. Where there are
no simple answers, he does not insult the reader by suggesting that
there are. The Celtic languages are given proper attention, Ellis
being aware that a language carries so much of a culture that its
loss is a diminution of that culture. The author chronicles the
advances in the '70s and '80s as the Media especially radio and
TV gave attention to the Celts. The image of the Celts was no
longer restricted to ideas of 'esoteric religiousness, or people
waiting for King Arthur to reawaken . . .' There was a new
awareness of the needs of those speaking the Celtic languages. The
review of the state of Pan Celticism in the new millennium gives
grounds for optimism. The Leagues ideal of independent and
culturally cohesive nations coming together as 'confederations of
equals' is yet to be realised but the possibilities are there if
people, especially the sixteen million people in Celtic countries,
are prepared to commit themselves to the cause. To call Celtic Dawn
a substantial and thorough study does not mean that it is
difficult, 'boring' or 'dry as dust'. Here the issues are too
alive, too relevant and too controversial as in Elliss debates
with Simon James to allow a yawn. It is not possible to do
justice to such a spirited and wide-ranging study as Celtic Dawn in
a short review. It is a richly rewarding book to read.
*John Spink @ www.gwales.com*
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