The Sublime Savage: A Study of James Macpherson and the Poems of Ossian [Hardcover]

Fiona J. Stafford (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Edinburgh Univ Pr (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0852245696
• ISBN-13: 978-0852245699
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,624,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Weighty but Worthwhile, August 22, 2001

By 

M. Hartman (East Coast, Etats-Unis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sublime Savage: A Study of James Macpherson and the Poems of Ossian (Hardcover)

I read this book while preparing a paper on Ossian. Ms. Stafford is, in my opinion, the leading authority on Macpherson. She has a keen understanding of the perspectives that contributed to the creation and the stigmatising of Macpherson and his epic poem Ossian. He is a figure worthy of study and the author paints a very detailed picture of Macpherson and the 18th century Edinburgh literati. It is truly a tragedy that the merits of this work (and of Macpherson himself) have been relegated to a secondary status as a footnote to 18th century literature, while lesser works have become part of the sacred "canon". With this book Fiona Stafford begins a reassessment of Ossian and Macpherson, that seeks to restore this wonderful work to the literary prominence it so strongly deserves. This is a very readable study, though it could prove a bit dry for the casual reader.