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. |
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