Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children

Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children

by Duncan Williamson (Author), Linda Williamson (Editor), Linda Williamson (Editor), Linda Williamson (Editor), Duncan Williamson (Author)

Synopsis

Duncan Williamson was a Scottish traveller who went on to become one of Britain's master story-tellers. During his lifetime he was acclaimed 'the greatest English-speaking storyteller', 'the national monument of British storytelling' and, at his death, Scotland's 'greatest contemporary storyteller'. "Fireside Tales", his first book, reveals this artistry and mastery in all its glory. This new edition is edited by his wife, Linda Williamson. "Fireside Tales" is narrated with an intense commitment to generations of the travelling people, who used animal fables, wonder tales and splendid horror stories to instill in their children moral judgment and a knowledge of right and wrong. At every corner the technical skill of the narrator is revealed, his ingenious mixture of conversation and action, frequent change of pace, use of the first person - all attributes of the born storyteller which compel attention, where tension and excitement are at fever pitch throughout. With a universality that can relate to every reader, this book represents one of the great collections of traveller stories.

$24.18

Quantity

1 in stock

More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Published: 30 Apr 2009

ISBN 10: 1841588148
ISBN 13: 9781841588148

Media Reviews

'Scotland's greatest modern-day storyteller'

* The Guardian *

'Exemplary and delightful'

* Times Educational Supplement *

'A treasure trove of oral storytelling'

* The Herald *

'Duncan Williamson's stories: a priceless part of our heritage, to be savoured'

* Edinburgh Evening News *
Author Bio

With over ten books to his name, Duncan Williamson was one of the last, best-known of Scotland's traveller storytellers. The son, grandson and great grandson of nomadic tinsmiths, basket makers, pipers and storytellers, he became known as one of the world's finest oral story-tellers, with over 3,000 stories committed to memory. His autobiography, The Horsieman, also published Birlinn, tells his life story as a traveller, hawking his wares, collecting stories, and travelling through Scotland. He died in November 2007.