The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2008, Page 47

Vol. 62 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
45
by people like King Henry II, Richard III
and especially by King Henry VIII who
used them to rationalize his break from the
Roman Catholic Church. Even Martin
Luther manipulated genealogy data to trace
his ancestry back to Adam. Sykes main-
tained that there is, "dreadful power and
dreadful danger in racial myth."
The sweeping movement of the Celts
(Greek, meaning from another place) to the
Isles is examined by Sykes who uses genet-
ics to follow their advances from their
European settlements. Sykes questions
whether genetics can explain the distinctive
music, art and spirituality that sets the
Celts apart from the rest of the population
of the Isles.
The emotional argument about the
superiority of the different British clans
reached its peak during the Victorian Age.
The most violent was the debate between
the racial character of the Saxons and the
Celts. The anti Celtic ranting of John Knox
had no basic support of scientific research.
Dr. John Beddoe was the first to study the
differences in the original inhabitants of the
Isles. He used a rather crude method of eye
and hair colour and shapes of skulls. He
even resorted to grave robbery to procure
skulls to compare their shapes.
Much of the history of Ireland is told
by myths which makes very interesting
reading. DNA studies seem to indicate that
Ireland was settled by descendants of
almost all the different primal clans in
Europe. Ireland has a very diverse, ancient
and colourful history.
This book gives a reliable account for
the reasons the men of Norway left their
country to plunder and pillage across
Europe. At first, they raided Monasteries
for wealth and glory, but soon the Vikings
began to settle the rich lands of the Orkney
and Shetland Islands. With intense research
of the DNA of the present day residents of
Norway, Ireland, Scotland and Iceland,
Sykes attempts to prove or disprove the
theory that the Norse men brought women
with them when they raided the Isles or did
they raid the Isles for wives. Sykes makes
reference to the settlement of Iceland and
the importance of the genetic research
being done there.
The history of Wales is rich in stories
of struggle and confrontation as far back as
43 AD. A part of that history explains why
the eldest son of a British Monarch is given
the title of "Prince Of Wales."
England has almost 80 per cent of the
population of the Isles. It has nearly every
kind of geological structure which makes it
an ideal attraction for a variety of invaders.
Literature and art have documented, in
many forms, the history of England. The
early settlers have left behind such monu-
ments as Stonehenge and Avebury to tell
their stories.
Saxons, Vikings an Celts contains an
abundance of technical terms which at
times are difficult to follow. Sykes is aware
of this and states, "If your head is spinning
you are feeling just as I did when I first
tried to decipher these results." There are
charts, maps, notations and a substantial
collection of historical illustrations includ-
ed to assist the reader.
Saxons, Vikings and Celts is the kind
of book that can keep readers completely
engrossed. It is an ideal book for anyone
who enjoys learning more about genetics
and anthropology or simply appreciates a
good book that expands the mind. Sykes
has written the book for all of us who real-
ly want to know who we think we are and
to arouse our curiosity about our ances-
tors.
Rev. stefa ia,jopmssotA,
ARBORG UNITARIAN CHURCH
GIMLI UNITARIAN CHURCH
9 Rowand Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 2N4
Telephone: (204) 889-4746
E-mail: sjonasson@uua.org