On The Trail Of Scotland S Myths And Legends

A book about Scotland drawn from hundreds, if not thousands, of stories. The stories are hilarious, tragic, heroic or frightening.

Scotland's rich past and varied landscape have inspired an extraordinary array of legends and beliefs, and in The Lore of Scotland Jennifer Westwood and Sophia Kingshill bring together many of the finest and most intriguing: stories of heroes and bloody feuds, tales of giants, fairies, and witches, and accounts of local customs and traditions. Their range extends right across the country, from the Borders with their haunting ballads, via Glasgow, site of St Mungo's miracles, to the fateful battlefield of Culloden, and finally to the Shetlands, home of the seal-people. More than simply retelling these stories, The Lore of Scotland explores their origins, showing how and when they arose and investigating what basis - if any - they have in historical fact. In the process, it uncovers the events that inspired Shakespeare's Macbeth, probes the claim that Mary King's Close is the most haunted street in Edinburgh, and examines the surprising truth behind the fame of the MacCrimmons, Skye's unsurpassed bagpipers. Moreover, it reveals how generations of Picts, Vikings, Celtic saints and Presbyterian reformers shaped the myriad tales that still circulate, and, from across the country, it gathers together legends of such renowned figures as Sir William Wallace, St Columba, and the great warrior Fingal. The result is a thrilling journey through Scotland's legendary past and an endlessly fascinating account of the traditions and beliefs that play such an important role in its heritage.

Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie is a great insight into Scottish legends and rich culture. Mackenzie puts together some of the most well-known stories that are at the heart of Scottish history and ancient beliefs. He explains how a majority of these have been passed on from generation to generation through the oral tradition via reciters. Revolving around deities and the acceptance of certain characters like the strong headed Beira or the Winter Queen, or The Powers that were responsible for change in seasons, Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend provides a fascinating account of folklore through a gripping narrative. The author starts with the Beira and moves on to other important deities, locations and forces that were central to Scottish legends. These include Princess of Land under Waves, Conall, Kingdom of Seals and Thomas the Rhymer among others. Replete with illustrations and an enchanting mix of prose with poetry, Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend is bound to captivate the reader with its magical tales. As Mackenzie points out, unlike Greek or other cultures, the gods and goddesses of Scottish tradition have not been sculpted or preserved for posterity through other forms of art. It is only literature as seen in this work that keeps the legends alive and helps in recounting the many anecdotes and incidents of the past. Of all the sections in the book, the author brings out the role of Beira as the Winter Queen the best. He is able to move the reader with an acute sense of immense power and fear while describing her in all her glory. Written in sanguine language, this book is perfect for the casual enthusiast looking for a starting point on Scottish history and legend while it is bound to bring a smile to the faces of those who have had the privilege of already knowing some of the stories found within this volume. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

A collection of Scottish folktales.