A Waxing Moon: The Modern Gaelic Revival - Hardcover

Hutchinson, Roger

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1840187948 ISBN 13: 9781840187946

Publisher: Mainstream Publishing, 2004

Synopsis

Thirty years ago, the Gaelic language and culture which had been eminent in Scotland for 1,300 years seemed to be in the final stages of a 200-year terminal decline. The language itself was commonplace only in the scattered communities of the north-west Highlands and Hebrides. By the early years of the 21st century, however, a sea-change had taken place. Gaelic—for so long a subject of mockery and hostility—had become what some termed "fashionable." Gaelic-speaking jobs were available; Gaelic-medium education was established in many areas; and politicians and business-people saw benefits in acting as friends of the culture. What had happened was a kind of renaissance—a Gaelic revival that manifested itself in popular music, literature, art, poetry, publishing, drama, radio, and television. This book looks at the phenomenon—as obvious as it was unexpected.

About this title

About the Author:

Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist. His previous books include High Sixties: The Summers of Riot and Love, All the Sweets of Being: A Life of James Boswell, Empire Games: The British Invention of Twentieth-Century Sport and The Toon: A Complete History of Newcastle United Football Club. He lives in London.

Review:

"'The fine detail of the book clearly reveals how much nerve and hope (and judgement and error) it took to turn a disused barn into one of the most radical educational ventures in the country, with sometimes unlikely cart-pushers. This book is also available in Gaelic, thus becoming part of the revival it celebrates'." -- Angus Peter Campbell The Scotsman 20050827 "'First and foremost as account of the formidable group of visionary Gaels who created the first Gaelic college of the modern age, this book attempts to analyse the contradictions which surround the current situation of the language'." -- Murdo Macleod Scotland on Sunday 20050828 "'A highly readable journey through the surge of interest in the language'." -- Mike Lowson Aberdeen Press & Journal 20050827 "'Hutchinson's determination to put it into historical context has produced a significant commentary on the fortunes of Gaelic. He reminds us of each hard-won milestone on the road to some kind of meaningful government commitment'." -- David Ross Scottish Books 20051022 "'An interesting account of modern Gaelic history'." -- Lindsay Macdonald Aberdeen Press & Journal 20051001

About this edition

• Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1840187948
• ISBN 13: 9781840187946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272