Publisher Description
One of the Modern Scholar’s most popular lecturers, Professor Timothy B. Shutt of Kenyon College examines the contributions of the peoples of northern Europe through their vibrant literary legacy. As Professor Shutt’s textual analysis reveals, Celtic and Germanic values shine through these works, exhibiting such characteristics as courage, self-control, and respect for women. As listeners will find, the legacy of the European Northlands formed a cultural pattern that continues to this day.
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““Recorded Books” is behind this work, but it seems more like a recorded lecture than a written text read out to you. And I think it’s marvelous. Professor Shutt gives us the Celts and Germans as I imagine he would do to his students. His style is oral. He varies his voice a lot, underlining parts by raising his voice or taking pauses, or using a low voice, as if moving away from the mic. He also uses some oral connecting words and expressions. I think this gives the audio-book concept an extra dimension which I appreciate a lot. Professor Shutt’s lecture makes great listening. It’s oral but never chatty and he knows his subject. His main theme is mythology and lore from the Celtic and Germanic peoples.
I could have wished he had discussed the cultural unity or lack of unity in these two cultures. To what extent were their stories shared inside their respective language communities? It is argued that especially the Celts had a very weak idea of having a wider cultural identity.
I also think the lecture is a trifle short on the Celt’s and German’s enduring legacy on our modern western culture. Shutt talks a lot about their different style of storytelling. According to the book’s subtitle, the enduring legacy, this difference might be possible to point out, for example in modern storytelling in films and on tv.
That said, this is a great lecture about a fascinating part of our history.
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Jostein (4 out of 5 stars)
