Savage & bloodthirsty or civilized & peaceable? The Celts have long been a subject of enormous fascination speculation & misunderstanding From the ancient Romans to the present day their real nature has been obscured by a tangled web of preconceived ideas & stereotypes Barry Cunliffe seeks to reveal this fascinating people for the first time using an impressive range of evidence & exploring subjects such as trade migration & the evolution of Celtic traditions Along the way he exposes the way in which society's needs have shaped our visions of the Celts & examines such colourful characters as St Patrick Cu Chulainn & Boudica ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable