Rome's Enemies (2): Gallic and British Celts (Men-at-Arms)

The plates in this book are beautifully illustrated and there is a fair amount of interesting information on Iron Age Gallic and British weaponry and armor.
However, I found much of the information too be quite outdated and was annoyed at the authors' constant grouping of diverse cultures from throughout Europe into some kind of "Celtic" blob.

Overall, the text of this book is not worth much (the information on the helmets, swords, etc. can be found just about anywhere, and often in greater detail, while the section on 'Celtic' history is just plain weak), but McBride's beautiful artwork, if nothing else, could make it a worthy purchase. Some of the plates in this book,, notably 'D' showing a chieftain in a chariot beign followed by a pack of curious local children and dogs, are simply spectacular.

If you are looking for a good Osprey-style intro to the warriors of the proud, disparate tribes of Gaul and Britannia, try Stephen Allen's 'Celtic Warrior 300 BC - AD 100', it is better-researched, has more material, and the artwork is almost as good. But, if you are a devoted fan of Angus McBride, buy this book!

the amount of scholarship enclosed in these little more than pamphlet simply amazes. there is always some archaeological digs in these books usually showing a chief or warriors burial with artwork.lots of pictures and good explanations of them and good maps considering that in 200 BC the technology of accurate mapmaking was (not there)!! I think isaw a few of these costumed bezerkers in the movie Braveheart,which just shows how little crazed naked swordsmen changed over 2000 years.The book could have been enhanced by a very brief discussion on the stimulants used by these warriors a subject glossed over by showing some ale horns.Imean who would go into battle stark naked with only a sword without being "on something" unless they were in the ecstatic throes of religious feverency,like calling for Odin??Could it be love of the motherland or fear of shame to the family?Sort of like I'm no draft dodger,here's all of me!As shakespeare said,"courage to go to their deaths as men go their beds"!!I know a beserker would be offended clear to Valhalla by some PG rated copyist insisting on hiding the vitals with a horsehair plume or a strategically angled shield.I've heard some beserkers never carried a shield. C'mon I've seen alot worse in National Geographic. Are you afraid the local farm library won't buy it with a full picture,they won't buy it anyway unless there are some "honey do" projects or "puppy wonderful" tales included.a beserker has come there to die,not to be "politically correct"!I,m surprised Osprey hasn't done one on the beserker.it would sell,at least i would buy it.These books are meant for both info and fun.You also get an idea of how organized the Roman army must have been to subject these people.

This work is of the usual Osprey format for use by wargamers and those interested in military history. The author opens with a chronology, then an introduction defining the Celts/Gauls and the associated archaeology and sources. From there the text expands into discussion of the warriors and culture, then arms and armor, followed by warfare, and finally a discussion of the plates.

The plates by Angus McBride are of high quality--vivid, properly proportioned, with well-chosen poses. They illustrate an appropriate variety of Celtic/Gallic warrior styles and equipment. The only negative is that there are only eight plates in total.

Unfortunately, the ancient Celts/Gauls did not use written language so their story is necessarily told to us largely from Roman and Greek perspectives, supplemented by what has been discovered through archaeology. Celtic culture was one of small fort communities and farmsteads, rather than the developed metropolitan centers of Greek, Roman, and various Eastern cultures. While this put the Celts at a disadvantage, it was made worse by the tribal, non-centralized government that was characteristic of the ancient Celts. Strong "federal" governments like Rome gradually and eventually subdued the Celts/Gauls (as Rome had done to other disunited cultures, including the Greek world.)

The Celtic/Gallic army and warrior were to be feared. While lacking Roman organizational structure and engineering capabilities, the warriors proved more than a match for Rome on many occasions. Gauls sacked Rome ca. 390 BC and it was nearly 350 years before Rome conquered all mainland Celts. Along the way Celtic/Gallic forces were a severe threat to Rome on many occasions, especially in the army of Hannibal. Rome owed a number of its military advances to assimilation of Gallic/Celtic equipment.

I highly recommend this work to those interested in Celtic warfare of the classical period (and those interested in learning what the Romans were up against in their early history.)

Not particuarly good. I'd recommend Celtic Warriors (by Time Newark) or nearly any book by Peter Berresford Ellis, if you can get ahold of them. The saving grace, however, is in the artwork. Angus McBride is certainly talented, and people should check out his other works.
As for the text, there is not much too it. The classifications of helmets was good, but the history seems to come entirely from pro-Roman sources, such as Caeser. It therefore contains a large number of mistakes about Celtic civilization, mostly ones that reinforce the stereotype of "noble savages".