Tales and Traditions of the Lews
Title: Tales and Traditions of the Lews
Author: Collected by Dr Donald MacDonald of Gisla
Publisher: Mrs MacDonald, Stornoway, Lewis
Date: 1967
Hardback - 1st Edition missing original dustcover. 297pp. Illustrated with b/w photography, 3 pull-out genealogical table including the chief of the MacLeod's of Lewes and the MacLeod's of Skye Map.
Synopsis
MacDonald's greatest legacy lies in his painstaking collection of the folklore of Lewis. His notebooks preserve:
- traditional legends of Lewis and Harris;
- stories connected with local families and clans;
- accounts of the Norse and medieval past;
- traditions relating to churches, saints, and holy wells;
- tales of the Sìth (fairies), second sight, and other supernatural beliefs;
- local place-name lore and historical reminiscences.
His work captured memories from elderly islanders whose knowledge stretched back into the nineteenth century, preserving a remarkable body of oral history at a time when Gaelic-speaking communities were undergoing profound change.
Tales and Traditions of the Lews
Many of MacDonald's manuscripts were unpublished at the time of his death. His widow, Emily MacDonald, arranged for a selection to be edited and published posthumously as Tales and Traditions of the Lews, ensuring that his life's work became accessible to later generations. The volume remains an important source for historians, folklorists, and anyone interested in the cultural heritage of the Outer Hebrides.
Condition Notes
An extremely well presented copy with clean cover boards and bright and clean pages throughout. The original dustcover is missing.
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