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A Scottish Bestiary: The Lore and Literature of Scottish Beasts
91 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
12 people want to read
About the author
Francis G. Thompson
33 books6 followersFrancis George Thompson was born in 1931, and after a career as an electrical engineer, technical writer, university lecturer and journalist, he became an author of a number of books on the Scottish Highlands and Islands. He taught at Lews Castle College on Stornoway, and is chairman of the Lewis Museum Trust. Thompson was also the editor of the English-Gaelic bilingual newspaper Sruth between 1967 and 1971.
His books include Harris Tweed (1969), Crofting Years (1984) and a number of Shell Guides to Scotland, some of which have been updated and republished by other companies. He also wrote a number of books on the mythology of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, including Supernatural Highlands and Highland Smugglers.
His books include Harris Tweed (1969), Crofting Years (1984) and a number of Shell Guides to Scotland, some of which have been updated and republished by other companies. He also wrote a number of books on the mythology of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, including Supernatural Highlands and Highland Smugglers.
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August 17, 2014
Traditional bestiaries from Greek and Medieval times revealed to an amazed world the profusion of animal varieties discovered by the early travellers. Many such discoveries have not been authenticated it more recent times — creatures such as werewolves, unicorns, krakens and other - sea-monsters — but the bestiary-writer was usually .more concerned to draw a moral lesson from each beast than with strict scientific proof. In the various qualities of the animal world there was behaviour that mankind could either emulate or abhor.
This collection of traditional lore and literature about a selection of animals particularly associated with Scotland shows how animals can still reflect the generous and the vicious sides to man's nature. The author's wide knowledge of the Highlands enables him to bring together such diverse sources as Gaelic poetry and 19th-century hunting literature in chronicling the extermination of a range of magnificent beasts.
Thirty different animals are covered, ranging from the extinct Brown Bear and Elk to endangered species like the Pine Marten and the six-horned Highland sheep. Each is illustrated in line drawing by Malcolm J. Robinson, and there is an appendix listing places where some of them may still be seen.
This collection of traditional lore and literature about a selection of animals particularly associated with Scotland shows how animals can still reflect the generous and the vicious sides to man's nature. The author's wide knowledge of the Highlands enables him to bring together such diverse sources as Gaelic poetry and 19th-century hunting literature in chronicling the extermination of a range of magnificent beasts.
Thirty different animals are covered, ranging from the extinct Brown Bear and Elk to endangered species like the Pine Marten and the six-horned Highland sheep. Each is illustrated in line drawing by Malcolm J. Robinson, and there is an appendix listing places where some of them may still be seen.
Displaying 1 of 1 review