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An Lasair (The Flame): An Anthology of Eighteenth-Century Gaelic Verse
by (Editor: Ronald Black)
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Birlinn Publishers (2001-10)
ISBN: 1841580929
EAN: 9781841580920
Dewy Decimal #: 808
Paperback: 576 pages
Edition: Bilingual
SKU: N2643
Condition: Good
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
This anthology contains over 50 poems, arranged chronologically, from the stylized poetic forms and structures of the seventeenth century to the free flowing individualism and variety of the eighteenth century. The poems are laid out in facing-page translation with full notes and a substantial introduction and commentary.
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Customer Reviews
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Gives Insight
Rating  (5)
Date: 2005-08-15
There are so few books which inform the reader about the attitudes and values of Highlanders. The songs are printed in Gaelic and English with an excellent introduction and copious notes to explain the background of each song. The importance of the cèilidh house is given in the context of declining literacy in Gaelic in the 18th century.
The editor has chosen a wide selection: poems in praise of homeland, of the chiefs, in the manner of the professional 'bardic' poets, and even an aoir (satire/lampoon) of Alexander MacIntosh. Gentlemen were expected to be hospitable and the object of the aoir was very rude to Kenneth MacKenzie, a poet. The MacIntosh died three days after he received a copy of MacKenzie's poems.
The notes give a lot of information about the poets and those about whom they wrote.
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