The history of the Celts is the history of a misnomer. There has never been a distinct people, race or tribe claiming the name of Celtic, though remnants of different languages and cultures remain throughout Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall.

The word keltoi first appears in Greek as applied generally to aliens or ‘barbarians’ – and theories of Celticism continue to fuel many of the prejudices and misconceptions that divide the peoples of the British Isles to this day.

Often seen as unimportant or irrelevant adjuncts to English history, in The Celts Simon Jenkins offers a compelling counterargument. This is a fascinating and timely debate on who the Celts really were – or weren’t – and what their legacy should be in an increasingly dis-United Kingdom.

Simon Jenkins is the author of the bestselling A Short History of England (Profile), England’s Thousand Best Churches and England’s Thousand Best Houses, Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations and most recently A Short History of Europe. From 2008 to 2014 he was the chairman of the National Trust, and the former editor of The Times and Evening Standard and a columnist for the Guardian. He lives in London.

This event will be live streamed here https://youtu.be/tellVzfzLh4