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Beattock for Moffat
Beattock for Moffat is the story of a Scot exiled in London returning to his family home in Moffat to die.
- GenresShort Stories
16 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1902
3 people want to read
About the author
R.B. Cunninghame Graham
130 books5 followersRobert Bontine Cunninghame Graham was a Scottish journalist, politician and adventurer who rode with the gauchos on cattle ranches in Argentina before serving as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament (MP). He was the first-ever socialist member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom; was a founder, and the first president, of the Scottish Labour Party; a founder of the National Party of Scotland in 1928; and the first president of the Scottish National Party in 1934.
His books and articles spanned history, biography, poetry, essays, politics, travel and seventeen collections of short stories or literary sketches. He also assisted Joseph Conrad with research for Nostromo.
There is a seat dedicated to Cunninghame Graham in the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh with the inscription: "R B 'Don Roberto' Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore and Ardoch, 1852–1936, A great storyteller".
His books and articles spanned history, biography, poetry, essays, politics, travel and seventeen collections of short stories or literary sketches. He also assisted Joseph Conrad with research for Nostromo.
There is a seat dedicated to Cunninghame Graham in the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh with the inscription: "R B 'Don Roberto' Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore and Ardoch, 1852–1936, A great storyteller".
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 27, 2021
A short story from 1902, in which a terminally ill man travels on a train from London to Scotland, to see his home village one last time before he dies. He is accompanied by his wife and his younger brother, and his destination is the village of Moffat in Dumfriesshire. The story’s title comes from the fact he must leave the train at a place called Beattock, before travelling the last mile or so to Moffat. I first read this story more than 30 years ago as part of an anthology, and have just re-read it.
The story is well regarded by literary critics in Scotland, but I recall that when I first read it I found it unlikeable, even unpleasant. I also thought it had an over-emphasis on national stereotypes. My reactions didn’t change as a result of the re-read. Given all that, you might ask why I have given it 3 stars. I gave them grudgingly, but despite my dislike, the story stayed fresh in my memory from the time I first read it decades ago. That’s more than can be said for some of the novels I’ve read, let alone the short stories. It takes effective writing for a story to have that sort of impact with me, so credit where it’s due.
The story is well regarded by literary critics in Scotland, but I recall that when I first read it I found it unlikeable, even unpleasant. I also thought it had an over-emphasis on national stereotypes. My reactions didn’t change as a result of the re-read. Given all that, you might ask why I have given it 3 stars. I gave them grudgingly, but despite my dislike, the story stayed fresh in my memory from the time I first read it decades ago. That’s more than can be said for some of the novels I’ve read, let alone the short stories. It takes effective writing for a story to have that sort of impact with me, so credit where it’s due.
Displaying 1 of 1 review