New book on the Celts released
A new book titled Les Celtes. Histoire d’une civilisation was published in 2026 by the French publisher Tallandier. It is edited by Anne Lehoërff and contains 544 pages, priced at 39 euros.Collaboration of experts
Twenty experts from various fields, including archaeology, history, art history, and research institutions like the CNRS, collaborated on the book under the direction of Anne Lehoërff. These contributors include university professors, curators, and researchers.Book's focus on Celtic civilization
The subtitle "Histoire d’une civilisation" implies that the Celts are viewed as a single civilization with shared characteristics spanning regions from Bohemia to Scotland and from the Baltic Sea to the Po Valley in Italy. This perspective challenges the idea of the Celts as a loosely connected group of tribes.Structure of the book
The book is divided into three main parts. The first, titled "De quoi les Celtes sont-ils le nom," provides an overview of current knowledge about the Celts, including ancient sources, language, and areas of study. It also features a chapter titled "Portraits of Celts," which examines demographic aspects.Topics covered in the second part
The second part, "Être Celte: des traits communs," explores key aspects of Celtic life, such as trade, warfare, craftsmanship, and religious practices. It includes a chapter dedicated to the sacred and its associated rituals.Third part and regional focus
The third part is described as a "Regional history of the Celtic peoples," but it is organized chronologically, except for the final chapter, which focuses on the British Isles and Ireland. This section follows a different timeline compared to the history of continental Europe.Visual and supplementary content
The book includes original maps, over 100 illustrations, and well-reproduced appendices such as a chronology, bibliography, index, and glossary. The collective effort of the contributors is clearly reflected in the depth and variety of the content.
