A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World [Paperback]

Michael Steven Newton (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Four Courts Pr Ltd (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185182541X
• ISBN-13: 978-1851825417
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,845,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Newton is a lecturer in the Celtic Studies department of St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. He was awarded a PhD in Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh and is a leading authority on the literature and cultural legacy of Scottish Highland immigrant communities in America.

He has written several books and numerous articles on many aspects of Highland tradition and history. He was the editor of Duthchas nan Gaidheal: Selected Essays of John MacInnes, which won the Saltire Society's Research Book
award of 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a comprehensive introduction to Gaelic culture, October 24, 2000

By 

Christopher S. Thompson (Portland, Me USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World (Paperback)

Anyone who is interested in any aspect of Scottish Gaelic culture- the language,clan history, pipe or fiddle music, bardic poetry, Highland dance, spirituality and so on- should read this book first. Why? Because all these things are parts of a whole, and this may be the first book to treat them that way. As a result, they are all much easier to understand, and every part of the culture makes sense on a deeper level than in previous studies. The author discusses Gaelic culture in terms of its own traditional values, and in its own words (by quoting many Gaelic poems and songs). This is an almost revolutionary approach, considering how much tartan sentimentalism, New Age marketing and anti-Gaelic propaganda have distorted the picture. This book gives a much clearer view. But there is a coherant philosophy to the book that also puts the Gaelic experience in the context of the broader world. Those who are interested in Celtic spirituality will find many illusions dispelled here. But in the process, they will also be introduced to something far more beautiful and valuable- real Gaelic spirituality and culture, which can only be understood on Gaelic terms. This is a big step in that direction.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Much Needed Primer, June 23, 2001

By 

Kent Macfarlane, FSA (Scot.) (Vancouver, B. C. Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World (Paperback)

The most upsetting thing to a student of the Scottish Gaelic Culture is the lack of accurate information available. Among "Brigadoonery", New-Age rosy-coloured romanticism, and commonly available histories of Scotland, the student is faced with errors, misrepresentations, and outright indifference to Gaelic heritage and culture. Dr. Newton's work is the first serious attempt to redress this situation.

"A Handbook of Scottish Gaelic Culture" provides a useful starting place for both the novice and the scholar by describing the culture in its own words. He uses folktales, poetry, songs and stories in Gaelic, with English translations, to support descriptions of all aspects of daily life: work, family, social, spiritual, creative life and entertainment. Many of his sources, being Gaelic, have never been available to the English-speaking student before.

Because Dr. Newton is attempting such a massive undertaking, there are some aspects of the work which are dealt with in less detail than others would like. I found it curious, for instance, that there isn't a section on fishing as a community food source. This was of prime importance in Coastal and Island communities. That said, it must be remembered that this is, after all, a "Handbook", not an "Encyclopaedia". He has included copious notes and an eleven page bibliography for further study for those who wish more information.

This book is valuable for everyone interested in the real culture of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About time!, October 5, 2002

By 

R Bell (Dun Eideann/Edinburgh Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World (Paperback)

I'm sick and tired of having to explain to Scottish people why I'm interested in Scottish Gaelic culture. Maybe if they read this book they'll get a good idea why it is important to Scotland as a whole (not just the Highlands), and why we should be preserving the language instead of ignoring it, or being hostile to it. If nothing else I wish someone had come up with a book like this earlier! The nearest equivalent is 'The Companion to Gaelic Scotland' which is really an encyclopedia and contains numerous omissions.