The Modern Antiquarian: A Pre-Millennial Odyssey Through Megalithic Britain

but.. whoever thought this serves as a textbook must be.. new to the subject. some of the scholarship in here (the etymology in particular) is so wonky that I've laughed out loud while reading it - and this is not said as a cynical person. there are some really basic, glaring, wince-making errors, where julian has just tried to fit facts to his story.

the reason why I DO keep a copy with me is the second half, the gazetteer. this is written with so much energy, awareness and good humour that it becomes more of a companion than a book. accurate location details and directions, beautiful presentation, off-the-cuff poems, a sense of the author's own reaction and spirit. a really uplifting read - all the more reason why I wish the first half wasn't so shaky.


Beautiful and Informative   March 11, 2000
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

"The Modern Antiquarian" is a gorgeous book. It comes bound in a hardcover bright orange and metallic blue, the spine reminding me of a "sharp right turn" sign or a succession of Chevrons. The "dust jacket" is actually a hard cardboard dark blue and orange case with a cut-out in the center that focuses on a white sillouette of a dolmen, which is imprinted on the orange book cover itself. All the looks aside, this is a fabulously informative book on a subject which you can never have enough information. Julian Cope obviously took the time and effort to research and photograph the numerous prehistoric sites listed. He includes essays on the different folk-lores, theories, and conjectures that are forever lingering in such mysterious and unknown structures. His descriptions of the sites are very passionate and personal. He incorporates enough poetry, maps, personal photos, and enthusiasm to immerse the reader into taking the journey with him. The pages are full with pictures and are color-coded according to region. Anyone who is interested in prehistoric Britain, stone circles, or the just the very beginnings of human culture should read this book. It is a wonderful guide to a wonderful place.


Informative but strange....   November 3, 1999
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

The last thing you might associate Julian Cope with is a book about British Neolithic sites but this book is actually rather good. As someone who lives near many of them and who has a passing interest I was grabbed by his enthusiasm. He manages to infect the reader with a sense of place and wonder, after all, these Stones meant a lot to the people who put them there- Julian Cope seems to understand that. Rather than being a re-hash of some mad Von-Daniken book or an 'Aliens must have built these' afficiando he has done his homework and produced a book that could stand in pride of place beside any University textbook. Don't let put you off, an excellent text.

Even if you aren't too keen on the opinions and the poems this book is an excellent guide to British neolithic sites and who knows, it might make you want to visit them yourself. You should.