Scottish Traditional Tales

Stories of heroes, clans, and more in a collection that “savours the Scottish rendering of old folk tales . . . A treasure house of the oral tradition” (The Wee Review).

All over the world, traditional tales were told at the fireside until books, newspapers, radio, and television took their place. This is an entertaining collection from Scotland, recorded and collected by researchers from the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh over the past fifty years. Taken from a variety of sources, from the Hebridean Gaelic tradition to recordings of Lowland cairds (travellers), some are well-known tales which have equivalents in other cultures and languages, whilst others are unique to Scotland. The tales are arranged by theme: tall tales, hero tales, legends of ghosts and evil spirits, tales of fate and religion, fairies and sea-folk, children’s tales, trickster tales, tales of clan feuds, and robber tales. This “fine book which is highly recommended” quickly establishes itself as a classic (Dalriada).