I bought this book as it was considered the antithesis of all that Professor Ronald Hutton pronounced about there being no continuous survival of pagan traditions in the British Isles.

The authors rely on testimony from unnamed interviewees living in the Peak District, the Dales and parts of Scotland. I have to say as much as I can respect these witnesses wanting to remain anonymous, it does give the book an air of "a friend of a friend" type tales. It is even stranger that none of the practices to which the sources testify have ever been written down in this modern age, despite the authors' assertions that these areas remained isolated from the rest of Britain.

The book covers a number of different practices, such as veneration of stones, wells, rivers and trees. It also delves into local folklore and the strong links people in certain areas of Britain have with the celtic landscape, at least up until ten years ago, and it showed how, at times, incomers were rebuked for disturbing areas of importance.

I enjoyed the book and admired the authors attempts to offer proof of a continuous tradition of honouring the spirit of the land, but I had real difficulty in believing the proof being offered; I'd need more evidence to be convinced. What's more, I was not in this country at the time that various television programmes, mentioned several times in the book, were broadcast. I wanted to believe, but, for me, the links were tenuous at best.

The book was written in an easy and comfortable style, the photographs were good if a bit scarce.

"Twilight of the Celtic Gods" could have been so much more, but I think the authors approach from a folkloric, rather than purely academic approach may have hindered them. For those using "Twilight of the Celtic Gods" as a criticism of Prof. Ronald Hutton's work, its flimsy indeed.

I will keep the book for future reference, I am just not sure why.

Another review at: http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/bookrevs/267.htm ( )