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Heather and Broom: Tales of the Scottish Highlands
1960 Holt, Rinehart and Winston Publishing Hardcover w/Dust Jacket
128 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1960
6 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Sorche Nic Leodhas
32 books12 followerspseudonym for Leclaire Alger
Sorche Nic Leodhas (1898–1969) was born LeClaire Louise Gowans in Youngstown, Ohio. After the death of her first husband, she moved to New York and attended classes at Columbia University. Several years later, she met her second husband and became LeClaire Gowans Alger. She was a longtime librarian at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she also wrote children’s books. Shortly before she retired in 1966, she began publishing Scottish folktales and other stories under the pseudonym Sorche Nic Leodhas, Gaelic for Claire, daughter of Louis. In 1963, she received a Newbery Honor for Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland. Alger continued to write and publish books until her death 1969.
Sorche Nic Leodhas (1898–1969) was born LeClaire Louise Gowans in Youngstown, Ohio. After the death of her first husband, she moved to New York and attended classes at Columbia University. Several years later, she met her second husband and became LeClaire Gowans Alger. She was a longtime librarian at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she also wrote children’s books. Shortly before she retired in 1966, she began publishing Scottish folktales and other stories under the pseudonym Sorche Nic Leodhas, Gaelic for Claire, daughter of Louis. In 1963, she received a Newbery Honor for Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland. Alger continued to write and publish books until her death 1969.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 23, 2008
An American librarian obsessed with Scottish legends and lore, Sorche Nic Leodhas is a little known jewel of a writer who died in 1969. The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books published a wonderful article:
http://bccb.lis.uiuc.edu/0598gone.html
http://bccb.lis.uiuc.edu/0598gone.html
September 16, 2012
This is a solid collection that tries to provide some context for the stories and tried to keep some of the vocabulary and cadence of the language. I enjoyed many of them, although I couldn't quite decide if I liked how women were portrayed. However, my favorite story was "The Woman Who Flummoxed the Fairies"--it was so clever!
May 4, 2021
Scotland and its beautiful stories
Nice collection of scottish stories. They are more down to the earth kind eventhough there are many magical creatures, the human heroes are more flesh and blood than in usual stories of that kind
Nice collection of scottish stories. They are more down to the earth kind eventhough there are many magical creatures, the human heroes are more flesh and blood than in usual stories of that kind
March 14, 2025
Out of this collection of tales, my favorites were:
* The Ailpein Bird, the stolen princess, and the brave knight. Summary: The princess is taken captive by an enemy kingdom and is told she will marry the prince of the kingdom. She protects a bird, which in turn helps her escape. He flies her to a land of ice and snow, resting at his brother Owl's castle. They then fly to a land of fire and rest at his brother Crow's castle. Then, they fly to the ends of the earth to the kingdom of the birds. The brave knight in the meantime is following behind to rescue her. Under disguise, he is given 3 feathers by an old maid who found them after the princess vanished. The feathers will help him on his journey. He travels to each of the castles. The birds strike their beaks upon the ground thrice and shed their feathers, and wrestle the knight as men. Once he has proven himself, they aid him on his quest.
* the Lass who couldn't be frightened. This one is just humorous.
* The Daughter of the King Ron. A selkie tale. Always a sucker for a selkie tale.
* Spin, Weave, Wear. Summary a father boasts of his daughters skill (she can spin the thread, weave the cloth, and sew the clothes all in a day). An exaggerated tale spreads to the king. The king proclaims a contest and demends her presence at the palace within 2 weeks. The Lass in thinking what to do discovers her cat can talk. He finds some witches to help her out. She has to gather some difficult/riddle ingredients, and once she crosses the threshold of the castle, she can't utter a word or sound until her task is done. Otherwise, the magic won't work.
* The Ailpein Bird, the stolen princess, and the brave knight. Summary: The princess is taken captive by an enemy kingdom and is told she will marry the prince of the kingdom. She protects a bird, which in turn helps her escape. He flies her to a land of ice and snow, resting at his brother Owl's castle. They then fly to a land of fire and rest at his brother Crow's castle. Then, they fly to the ends of the earth to the kingdom of the birds. The brave knight in the meantime is following behind to rescue her. Under disguise, he is given 3 feathers by an old maid who found them after the princess vanished. The feathers will help him on his journey. He travels to each of the castles. The birds strike their beaks upon the ground thrice and shed their feathers, and wrestle the knight as men. Once he has proven himself, they aid him on his quest.
* the Lass who couldn't be frightened. This one is just humorous.
* The Daughter of the King Ron. A selkie tale. Always a sucker for a selkie tale.
* Spin, Weave, Wear. Summary a father boasts of his daughters skill (she can spin the thread, weave the cloth, and sew the clothes all in a day). An exaggerated tale spreads to the king. The king proclaims a contest and demends her presence at the palace within 2 weeks. The Lass in thinking what to do discovers her cat can talk. He finds some witches to help her out. She has to gather some difficult/riddle ingredients, and once she crosses the threshold of the castle, she can't utter a word or sound until her task is done. Otherwise, the magic won't work.
January 29, 2025
Finally read this old Newbery title. Definitely worthy, esp. considering upon what merits books were chosen then. Enlightening introduction. Fun stories. Adequate illustrations. A couple females were too passive, but there were clever and brave ones, too. Not too much violence. Dialect musical, distinct, but not difficult. My copy ILL from a university; I recommend that you scholars of old 'cottage tales' or historical Scotland try to read a copy yourself.
June 3, 2017
Some interesting tales from the Highlands. I particularly enjoyed the Lairdie with the heart of gold and The bogles from the Howff.
May 9, 2018
A series of delightful Scottish folk tales reminiscent of our fairy tales.
October 13, 2023
I just visited the Highlands and enjoyed these tales.
September 2, 2016
More wonderful tales of Scottish folk outwitting or using the supernatural elements around them to make better lives for themselves. I am truly in love with Scottish tales and lore.
April 16, 2010
I still have the copy I had when I was little!
March 23, 2016
A quaint little book of short stories. They include old Scottish mythology, faeries, brownies, Harper's, Laird's and lassies.
October 10, 2021
More wonderful Scottish folk tales.
April 15, 2020
A collection of Scottish folktales for telling.
June 17, 2025
this book holds such a special place in my heart, without a doubt the book i have reread the most over the years..❤️❤️
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews