The Lore of Scotland: A Guide to Scotland's Legends, from the Loch Ness Monster to Sawney Bean the Cannibal - Hardcover

Westwood, Jennifer; Kingshill, Sophia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1905211627 ISBN 13: 9781905211623

Publisher: Random House UK, 2009

Synopsis

A rich guide to a fascinating set of myths, this book explores the legends attached to buildings such as Balbegno Castle, whose last Laird was killed in battle before returning as a ghost to prophecy a friend’s future greatness; examines the tales behind landscape features such as Dowalton Loch, said to contain an ancient village in its depths; and looks at the strange events commemorated by monuments such as the Martyr’s Tomb in Wigtown, erected in memory of the "Covenanters," who resisted Charles II’s 1679 reintroduction of bishops. Along the way, it explains when these stories date from, how they arose, and what historical events if any underlie them, and the result is an endlessly fascinating exploration of the astonishing wealth of Scottish folklore.

About this title

About the Author:

Jennifer Westwood was the editor of the journal Folklore; the author of Albion: A Guide to Legendary Britain, The Atlas of Legendary Places, Gothick Cornwall, Lost Atlantis, and On Pilgrimage; and the coauthor of The Lore of the Land. Sophia Kingshill is a writer, editor, and researcher.

Review:

"Within a few minutes of this book arriving, I had put bookmarks in five places and was roaring through the index. A lovely compilation. It's the real macabre."
— Terry Pratchett

"An enthralling treasure chest of Scottish myths and legends... with this incredible collection, Westwood and Kingshill have ensured that... the stories of the past have now been preserved for future generations."
— Daily Record

"This is a well researched book exploring the righ folklore of Scotland... the breadth and range of this book is wide... Amusing and erudite, it's also an excellent guide to local variations in Scottish culture."
— Sunday Telegraph

From the Trade Paperback edition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House UK
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1905211627
• ISBN 13: 9781905211623
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576