A Brief History of the Druids (Brief Histories)

Who were the Druids, and what can the surviving evidence tell us about their place in the ancient Celtic world? Peter Berresford Ellis examines the classical accounts, archaeological evidence and linguistic traditions associated with the Druids, separating what can be reasonably reconstructed from the layers of legend that accumulated around them.

The book considers the Druids as religious specialists, teachers and intellectual figures within Celtic societies while also tracing how later writers reshaped their image. Accessible and wide-ranging, it offers an introduction to both the historical Druids and the long history of interpretation, romanticism and myth-making that has surrounded them.