Popular Tales of the West Highlands is a four-volume collection of fairy tales, collected and published by John Francis Campbell, and often translated from Gaelic. Alexander Carmichael was one of the main contributors. The collection in four volumes was first published in 1860–62 in Edinburgh. A new edition (with different pagination) appeared under the auspices of the Islay Association in 1890–93. Campbell dedicated the work in 1860 to the son of my Chief, the Marquess of Lorne.
Volume IV, subtitled "Postscript", contained miscellany. The greater part of it was devoted to commentary on the Ossian controversy, the rest filled with descriptions of traditional costume, music, and lore on supernatural beings. More West Highland Tales (1940) was later published, provided with translations by John Gunn McKay.
Fairy tales
Volume I The Young King Of Easaidh Ruadh The Battle of the Birds The Tale of the Hoodie The Sea-Maiden Conall Cra Bhuidhe The Tale of Conal Crovi The Tale of Connal Murchag a's Mionachag The Brown Bear of the Green Glen The Three Soldiers The Story of the White Pet The Daughter of the Skies The Girl and the Dead Man The King who Wished to Marry His Daughter The Poor Brother and the Rich The King Of Lochlin's Three Daughters Maol a Chliobain Fables Bailie Lunnain The Slim Swarthy Champion The History of the Ceabharnach The Tale of the Shifty Lad, the Widow's Son
Volume II The Chest The Inheritance The Three Wise Men A Puzzle The Ridere (Knight) of Riddles The Burgh The Tulman The Isle of Pabaidh Sanntraigh Cailliach Mhor Chlibhrich The Smith and the Fairies Kirkcudbright Sutherland Badenoch Ross Bearnairidh Isle of Man Devonshire Conclusion: Fairy Beliefs The Fine The Two Shepherds Osean After the Feen The Barra Widow's Son The Tale of the Queen Who Sought a Drink From a Certain Well The Origin of Loch Ness Conall Maghach Colgar The Brollachan Murachadh Mac Brian The Three Widows The Son of the Scottish Yeoman who Stole the Bishop's Horse and Daughter, and the Bishop Himself The Widow and her Daughters The Tale of the Soldier The Sharp Grey Sheep The Widow's Son Mac-a-Rusgaich MacIain Direach Fearachur Leigh The Tale of Sgire Mo Chealag The Cat and the Mouse The Three Questions The Fair Gruagach, Son of the King of Eirinn The Knight of the Red Shield The Tail
Volume III The Rider Of Grianaig, And Iain The Soldier's Son. Fionn's Questions. Diarmaid And Grainne The Lay of Diarmaid The Story of the Lay of Diarmaid, No. 1 The Lay of Diarmaid, No. 2 The Lay of Yeearmaid. No. 3 The Lay of Diarmaid, No. 4 Fables How the Fox Took a Turn Out of the Goat How the Cock Took a Turn Out of the Fox The Hen The Keg of Butter The Fox and the Little Bonnach Caol Reidhinn. Why the Name was Given to it Thomas of the Thumb. The Bulls. The Hoodie Catechising the Young One The Hoodie and the Fox The Yellow Muilearteach The Story of the Lay of the Great Fool The Lay of the Great Fool Guaigean Ladhrach 'S Loirean Spagach Conall Gulban; or Guilbeinach, or Gulbairneach Introduction The Story of Conall Gulban Story of the King of Spain. The Story of Conall Gulban (Part II) John, Son of the King of Bergen The Master and his Man. The Praise of Goll Osgar, the Son of Oisein The Lay of Osgar How the Een was Set Up The Reason Why the Dallag (Dog-Fish) is Called the King's Fish The Lay of Magnus Manus The Song of the Smithy Duan Na Ceardach Nighean Righ Fo Thuinn. The Daughter Of King Under-Waves
Volume IV Postscript I. Ossian, Points for Argument, Statement of the Case, Current Opinions-- English; Scotch; Irish; Irish Arguments Considered, Lowland Scotch Authorities—Heroes of Ossian, References to Fenian and other Traditions, and to Ossianic Heroes and Poems in Old Writings, chronologically arranged. Published Evidence and Books Popular Ballads Current Gaelic Traditions Internal Evidence Essay on Gaelic Poetry by H. MacNair Letter from John Dewar Letter from D. K. Torrie Letter from Archibald Sinclair Letter from Alexander Carmichael Conclusion Ossianic Proverbs and Family History II. Traditions—British Traditions Welsh Stories, etc., compared with Gaelic III. Mythology—Aryan Theory West Highland Stories Supernatural History—Water-Bulls, and Water-Horses, Boobries, Dragons, Fairies, etc. Icelandic Saga IV. A Plea for Gaelic List of Sanscrit words, Topography, Some words common to Gaelic and English, Other Languages, Saxon V. Highland Dress VI. Celtic Art and its probable origin VII. Music Conclusion List of Ballads orally collected References to Printed Ballads List of Stories Collected Index
References
Bibliography
Vol. I; Vol. II (1860); Vol. III (1862); Vol. IV (1862) Vol. III (1862); Vol. IV (1862) (Google)
Vol. I (1890); Vol. II (1890); Vol. III (1892); Vol. IV (1893) (Internet Archive) Vol. II (1890) Vol. IV (1893) (Google) ;
Vol. 1; Vol. 2 (snippet)
External links
National Library of Scotland's "Early Gaelic Book Collections" online (Blair collection) Popular Tales Edinburgh, 1860–62 (Vol. I-IV) Popular Tales Edinburgh, 1860–62 deluxe-bound (Vol. I-IV) Sacred-texts site (omits Gaelic text, etc.) Volume I Volume II Volume III Volume IV Electric Scotland site with Gaelic versions