Other editions of book The Scottish Fairy Book

A collection of 28 Scottish fairy tales, perfect for children (and adults) of all ages. Herein you will find what may be called Celtic stories, which were handed down for centuries by word of mouth by professional storytellers, who went about from clachan to clachan in the Highlands and Islands, earning a night's shelter by giving a night's entertainment. There are, roughly speaking, two distinct types of Scottish fairy tales. These stories (which are also common to the North of Ireland), are wild and fantastic, with every flavour of Scotland throughout. They tell of heroes and heroines who set out on dangerous quests, giants and monsters, fairy folk and other mythical creatures, strange other-lands and mysterious meetings. They have a peculiar Celtic fascination of their own, and they are quite distinct from the more traditional (Grimm-style) fairy tales. These tales, in Scotland, have also a character of their own, for there is no country where the existence of spirits and goblins has been so implicitly believed in up to a comparatively recent date. From morality tales to spooky stories, these 28 fascinating fictions are performed with energy and amazing characterisation by Steven Cree, one of the UK's most versatile actors, currently making a big splash in the US hit TV series Outlander. Collected and edited by Elizabeth W Grierson and originally published in 1910, the audio collection contains the following tales: 'Thomas the Rhymer', 'Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree', 'Whippety-Stourie', 'The Red Etin', 'The Seal-Catcher and the Merman', 'The Pageboy and the Silver Goblet', 'The Black Bull of Norroway', 'The Wee Bannock', 'The Elfin Knight', 'Nippit-Fit and Clippit-Fit', 'The Fairies of Merlin's Crag', 'Habetrot', 'The Spinstress', 'The Wedding of Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren', 'The Dwarfie Stone', 'Canonbie Dick and Thomas of Ercildoune', 'The Laird o' Co', 'Poussie Baudrons', 'The Milk-White Doo', 'The Draiglin' Hogney', 'The Brownie o' Ferne-Den', 'The Witch of Fife', 'Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm', 'The Fox and the Wolf', 'Katherine Crackernuts', 'The Well o' the World's End', 'Farquhar MacNeill', 'Peerifool', 'The Heather Lintie'. Read by Steven Cree (Outlander, Brave, John Carter, 300 Rise of an Empire, Maleficent.

There are, roughly speaking, two distinct types of Scottish Fairy Tales. There are what may be called "Celtic Stories," which were handed down for centuries by word of mouth by professional story-tellers, who went about from clachan to clachan in the "Highlands and Islands," earning a night's shelter by giving a night's entertainment, and which have now been collected and classified for us by Campbell of Isla and others. These stories, which are also common to the North of Ireland, are wild and fantastic, and very often somewhat monotonous, and their themes are strangely alike. They almost always tell of some hero or heroine who sets out on some dangerous quest, and who is met by giants, generally three in number, who appear one after the other; with whom they hold quaint dialogues, and whom eventually they slay. Most of them are fairly long, and although they have a peculiar fascination of their own, they are quite distinct from the ordinary Fairy Tale. These latter, in Scotland, have also a character of their own, for there is no country where the existence of Spirits and Goblins has been so implicitly believed in up to a comparatively recent date. As a proof of this we can go to Hogg's tale of "The Wool-gatherer," and see how the countryman, Barnaby, voices the belief of his day. "Ye had need to tak care how ye dispute the existence of fairies, brownies, and apparitions! Ye may as weel dispute the Gospel of Saint Matthew." Perhaps it was the bleak and stern character of their climate, and the austerity of their religious beliefs which made our Scottish forefathers think of the spirits in whom they so firmly believed, as being, for the most part, mischievous and malevolent. Their Bogies, their Witches, their Kelpies, even their Fairy Queen herself, were supposed to be in league with the Evil One, and to be compelled, as Thomas of Ercildoune was near finding out to his cost, to pay a "Tiend to Hell" every seven years; so it was not to be wondered at, that these uncanny beings were dreaded and feared. But along with this dark and gloomy view, we find touches of delicate playfulness and brightness. The Fairy Queen might be in league with Satan, but her subjects were not all bound by the same law, and many charming tales are told of the "sith" or silent folk, who were always spoken of with respect, in case they might be within earshot, who made their dwellings under some rocky knowe, and who came out and danced on the dewy sward at midnight. Akin to them are the tales which are told about a mysterious region under the sea, "far below the abode of fishes," where a strange race of beings lived, who, in their own land closely resembled human beings, and were of such surpassing beauty that they charmed the hearts of all who looked on them. They were spoken of as Mermaids and Mermen, and as their lungs were not adapted for breathing under water, they had the extraordinary power of entering into the skin of some fish or sea animal, and in this way passing from their own abode to our upper world, where they held converse with mortal men, and, as often as not, tried to lure them to destruction. The popular idea always represents Mer-folk as wearing the tails of fishes; in Scottish Folklore they are quite as often found in the form of seals. Then we frequently come across the Brownie, that strange, kindly, lovable creature, with its shaggy, unkempt appearance, half man, half beast, who was said to be the ordained helper of man in the drudgery entailed by sin, and was therefore forbidden to receive wages; who always worked when no one was looking, and who disappeared if any notice were taken of him.

“Told with admirable directness and simplicity in her own words, the author has ransacked many classes of Scottish folk-lore, selecting from each, where possible, the stories which are least well-known. Some of them have an antiquity of nearly four hundred years, as for instance, ‘The Black Bull of Norroway,’ ‘Thomas the Rhymer,’ ‘The Red-Etin.’ To our thinking, ‘The Well o’ the World’s End,’ is the gem of the collection. Though primarily written for young people, ‘The Scottish Fairy Book’ will delight all lovers of folk-lore.” -The Westminster Review, Volume 175, 1911 “An interesting collection of stories from the different classes of Scottish folklore, about the bogies, witches, fairies, and kelpies, in which our Scottish forefathers so firmly believed. Some of the stories are very old, others are known to later generations, but not many will be known to the children of today.” -Kindergarten Review, Volume 21, 1910-1911 “Perhaps it was the bleak and stern character of their climate, and the austerity of their religious beliefs which made our Scottish forefathers think of the spirits in whom they so firmly believed, as being, for the most part, mischievous and malevolent. Their Bogies, their Witches, their Kelpies, even their Fairy Queen herself, were supposed to be in league with the Evil One, and to be compelled, as Thomas of Ercildoune was near finding out to his cost, to pay a "Tiend to Hell" every seven years; so it was not to be wondered at, that these uncanny beings were dreaded and feared. But along with this dark and gloomy view, we find touches of delicate playfulness and brightness. The Fairy Queen might be in league with Satan, but her subjects were not all bound by the same law, and many charming tales are told of the "sith" or silent folk, who were always spoken of with respect, in case they might be within earshot, who made their dwellings under some rocky knowe, and who came out and danced on the dewy sward at midnight.” Elizabeth W. Grierson CONTENTS Thomas the Rhymer Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree Whippety-Stourie The Red-Etin The Seal Catcher and the Merman The Page-boy and the Silver Goblet The Black Bull of Norroway The Wee Bannock The Elfin Knight What to say to the New Mune Habetrot the Spinstress Nippit Fit and Clippit Fit The Fairies of Merlin's Crag The Wedding of Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren The Dwarfie Stone Canonbie Dick and Thomas of Ercildoune The Laird o' Co' Poussie Baudrons The Milk-white Doo The Draiglin' Hogney The Brownie o' Ferne-Den The Witch of Fife Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm The Fox and the Wolf Katherine Crackernuts The Well o' the World's End Farquhar MacNeill Peerifool Birthdays Glossary and Footnotes

Excerpt: ... of his hole not two yards below him. "Good morning, Robin Redbreast," said the sly old fox, who had tried to steal a fat duck from a farmyard the night before, and had barely escaped with his life. "And where mayest thou be going so early on this cold winter's day?" "I'm on my road to the King's Palace, to sing him a song this merry Yule morning," answered Robin, giving the same answer that he had given to the grey Pussy Baudrons and the greedy gled. "Thou wilt get a right good welcome, for His Majesty is fond of music," said the wily fox. "But ere thou go, just come down and have a look at a black spot which I have on the end of my tail. 'Tis said that there is not a fox 'twixt here and the Border that hath a spot on his tail like mine." "Very like, very like," replied Robin; "but I chanced to see thee worrying the wee lambie up on the braeside yonder, and I have no wish that thou shouldst try thy teeth on me. So I will e'en go on my way to the King's Palace, and thou canst show the spot on thy tail to the next passer-by." So the little Robin Redbreast flew away once more, and never rested till he came to a bonnie valley with a little burn running through it, 147 and there he saw a rosy-cheeked boy sitting on a log eating a piece of bread and butter. And he perched on a branch and watched him. "Good morning, Robin Redbreast; and where mayest thou be going so early on this cold winter's day?" asked the boy eagerly; for he was making a collection of stuffed birds, and he had still to get a Robin Redbreast. "I'm on my way to the King's Palace to sing him a song this merry Yule morning," answered Robin, hopping down to the ground, and keeping one eye fixed on the bread and butter. "Come a bit nearer, Robin," said the boy, "and I will give thee some crumbs." "Na, na, my wee man," chirped the cautious little bird; "for I saw thee catch the goldfinch, and I have no wish to give thee the chance to catch me." At last he came to the King's Palace and...

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About the Book Fairy tales, wonder tales, magic tales are a folklore genre taking the form of a short story that typically includes magical beings such as dragons, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, griffins, mermaids, talking animals, trolls, unicorns, or witches. Generally, magic or enchantments are involved. Fairy tales are distinguished from legends, are mainly derived from European tradition and folk lore, and are generally children's literature. Mythology has a broader and older pedigree than fairy tales, dating back to ancient times in a number of European, African, Middle Eastern and Asian civilizations. Best known among these to Western audiences are Ancient Greek and Old Norse myths and legends. Generally, these myths and legends describe epic quests, journeys and interactions between human adventurers or heroes and god-like deities.Also in this Book The term “humorous fiction” refers to a novel-length comic story, which has the intention of entertaining through laughter and amusement at the comic situations or characters presented therein. Famous authors who have written comic novels, include P. G. Wodehouse, Henry Fielding, Mark Twain, and John Kennedy Toole.And in this Book Collections of Essays are anthologies that have been compiled in order to demonstrate the works of a number of essayists. The list of essayists who have been active throughout the world and throughout time, is extraordinary. About us Leopold Classic Library has the goal of making available to readers the classic books that have been out of print for decades. While these books may have occasional imperfections, we consider that only hand checking of every page ensures readable content without poor picture quality, blurred or missing text etc. That's why we: republish only hand checked books; that are high quality; enabling readers to see classic books in original formats; that are unlikely to have missing or blurred pages. You can search "Leopold Classic Library" in categories of your interest to find other books in our extensive collection. Happy reading!

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Excerpt from The Scottish Fairy BookThere are what may be called Celtic Stories, which were handed down for centuries by word of mouth by professional story-tellers, who went about from clachan to clachan in the Highlands and Islands, earning a night's shelter by giving a night's entertainment, and which have now been collected and classified for us by Campbell of Isla and others.These stories, which are also common to the North of Ireland, are wild and fantastic, and very often somewhat monotonous, and their themes are strangely alike. They almost always tell of some hero or heroine who sets out on some dangerous quest, and who is met by giants, generally three in number, who appear one after the other; with whom they hold quaint dialogues, and whom eventually they slay. Most of them are fairly long, and although they have a peculiar fascination of their own, they are quite distinct from the ordinary Fairy Tale.These latter, in Scotland, have also a character of their own, for there is no country where the existence of Spirits and Goblins has been so implicitly believed in up to a comparatively recent date.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.