Books on Scottish Legends

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[TisiphoneSeraph]

I'm in the market for one or two books on Scottish legends and folktales.

It would be preferable if they took more of a story approach than a classification approach if that makes sense. Reason being I do colonial reenacting and, perhaps this sounds a bit silly, I would like to be able to tell stories related to my persona. Also just because I find them interesting.

Suggestions?

[Aster Breo]

Scotland isn't my strongest area of expertise, but my best recommendation is Scottish Wonder Tales from Myth and Legend, Donald A. Mackenzie, originally published in 1917.

You might also find some good material in The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries, W.Y. Evans-Wentz, which I think was originally published in 1966.  That one isn't just Scotland, though.

It'll be interesting to see what other people recommend.

[Adare]

I'm in the market for one or two books on Scottish legends and folktales.

It would be preferable if they took more of a story approach than a classification approach if that makes sense. Reason being I do colonial reenacting and, perhaps this sounds a bit silly, I would like to be able to tell stories related to my persona. Also just because I find them interesting.

Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland by Sorche Nic Leodhas (he also wrote Heather and Broom: Tales of the Scottish Highlands) would fit the bill.

I found it working at an Elementary school, and the author is passing on stories he's translated from Gaelic that he's been told all of his life growing up in Scotland. It's very readable, the author is a great story teller, and it won the Newberry Honor Award (any Newberry book is usually a good read).

Good luck!

MI-I'm looking forward to seeing what else is posted too! I'll have to pick up the Mackenzie you recmmended I'm working with the Heathen pantheon just now, but my most recent ancestor to come over was from Scotland, and I'm very interested in the Scottish perspective on Bride/Brighid.

[Aster Breo]

MI-I'm looking forward to seeing what else is posted too! I'll have to pick up the Mackenzie you recmmended I'm working with the Heathen pantheon just now, but my most recent ancestor to come over was from Scotland, and I'm very interested in the Scottish perspective on Bride/Brighid.

In case you're wondering, the Mackenzie book does include "The Coming of Angus and Bride", which is -- IIRC -- the best known Scottish story about Brighid.  But there are versions available online, as well, of course.  The new book on Brighid (Brighid:  Goddess, Druidess and Saint, by Brian Wright) also has a chapter specifically about Brighid in Soctland and the Hebrides (and another chapter about Wales, I think, but I haven't gotten to that one yet).

[TisiphoneSeraph]

Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland by Sorche Nic Leodhas (he also wrote Heather and Broom: Tales of the Scottish Highlands) would fit the bill.

It looks like these are out of print but they both look like they would be worth having. I might still try to buy it used off of one of the Amazon sellers.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[TisiphoneSeraph]

Scotland isn't my strongest area of expertise, but my best recommendation is Scottish Wonder Tales from Myth and Legend, Donald A. Mackenzie, originally published in 1917.

This one will be ordered as soon as I get my paycheck. It looks pretty good.

Thanks!

[catja6]

The classic collection is J.F. Campbell, Popular Tales of the West Highlands (1890).  An electronic version is available at Sacred Texts:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ptwh.htm

As always with older collections, focus on the data (and be aware that it was very likely to have been edited/shaped/bowdlerized, according to the attitudes of the author/collector), and ignore the theorizing.

[-Gwenhwyfar-]

The classic collection is J.F. Campbell, Popular Tales of the West Highlands (1890).  An electronic version is available at Sacred Texts:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ptwh.htm

As always with older collections, focus on the data (and be aware that it was very likely to have been edited/shaped/bowdlerized, according to the attitudes of the author/collector), and ignore the theorizing.

I really enjoyed reading through some of those.  I had the site bookmarked but put on the back burner for awhile.  I love reading anything about Scottish history and myths and legends!  Thanks for sharing the link.

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