Book, Druids, The[LS]

What we know about the Celts comes mainly from Greek and Roman sources. They were considered barbarians, but they built a fascinating society. The clues that have been gathered, however, reveal a large and organized group, in which the druids, religious leaders, occupy a prominent place. Despite all the speculation about his role in the Celtic civilization, which has even produced many literary and cinematic fiction scripts, researchers have great difficulty in compiling a clear picture of his activities and the extent of his leadership. Filippo Lourenço Olivieri, in The Druids, reveals to the student of the subject, and to the interested reader, elements that demonstrate that these men occupied a much broader political position in Celtic society, particularly in that established in the region of Gaul: more powerful and influential than supposed, less magical than speculated in the world of arts. What is certain is that this book provides us with an objective picture of what is known about this culture and expands the fascination the Celts and Druids still have on our imagination.