Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland
From the best-selling author of The Seven Daughters of Eve, an illuminating guide to the genetic history of the British Isles.\ One of the world's leading geneticists, Bryan Sykes has helped thousands find their ancestry in the British Isles. Saxons, Vikings, and Celts, which resulted from a systematic ten-year DNA survey of more than 10,000 volunteers, traces the true genetic makeup of the British Isles and its descendants, taking readers from the Pontnewydd cave in North Wales to the...
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From the best-selling author of The Seven Daughters of Eve, an illuminating guide to the genetic history of the British Isles. Library Journal Readers picking up this book expecting to learn about the genetic background of the British Isles risk being overwhelmed by long passages full of accounts of wars and invasions, historical figures and place names that are largely unfamiliar to American readers. Sykes's goal, as it was in his The Seven Daughters of Eve and Adam's Curse, is to bring genetics to bear on archaeology and untangle the pedigrees of populations to reveal their origins. Unfortunately, in this case there is too much detailed recounting of each country's history so that by the time we arrive at Sykes's conclusion, it seems anticlimactic. In his favor, Sykes writes in an easy style suitable for popular science material and does make a good case for genetics taking its place alongside archaeology and history as a tool for understanding the past. His discussion of the ups and downs of doing field research provides an interesting look at how a scientist conducts research. Recommended only if there is demand. (Maps, index, and appendix not seen.) [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/06.]-Ann Forister, Roseville, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Acknowledgements ixList of illustrations xiNorth American Preface xiiiMaps xviPrologue 1Twelve Thousand Years of Solitude 5Who Do We Think We Are? 20The Resurgent Celts 44The Skull Snatchers 59The Blood Bankers 78The Silent Messengers 92The Nature of the Evidence 110Ireland 120The DNA of Ireland 147Scotland 165The Picts 177The DNA of Scotland 186Wales 219The DNA of Wales 231England 241Saxons, Danes, Vikings and Normans 255The DNA of England 267The Blood of the Isles 277Appendix 289Index 293
\ From Barnes & NobleBryan Sykes' systematic ten-year DNA survey of more than 10,000 people yielded the most comprehensive picture ever made of Great Britain and Ireland's genetic makeup. Using this data, the author develops a history of the British Isles that covers Roman invasions and Norman conquests but extends beyond written records. This fascinating study even includes a chapter about the genetic background of Americans who have descended from British and Irish ancestors. Old history seen in a new light.\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalReaders picking up this book expecting to learn about the genetic background of the British Isles risk being overwhelmed by long passages full of accounts of wars and invasions, historical figures and place names that are largely unfamiliar to American readers. Sykes's goal, as it was in his The Seven Daughters of Eve and Adam's Curse, is to bring genetics to bear on archaeology and untangle the pedigrees of populations to reveal their origins. Unfortunately, in this case there is too much detailed recounting of each country's history so that by the time we arrive at Sykes's conclusion, it seems anticlimactic. In his favor, Sykes writes in an easy style suitable for popular science material and does make a good case for genetics taking its place alongside archaeology and history as a tool for understanding the past. His discussion of the ups and downs of doing field research provides an interesting look at how a scientist conducts research. Recommended only if there is demand. (Maps, index, and appendix not seen.) [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/06.]-Ann Forister, Roseville, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.\ \
