- Paperback: 292 pages
- Publisher: Four Courts Press Ltd (1 Jan 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 185182541X
- ISBN-13: 978-1851825417
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,442,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Being a learner of Scottish Gaidhlig, and wanting to find out more about the life and history of the Gaelic speaking people of Scotland, I decided to order Dr Michael Newton's book. I was rather dismayed, I must admit, on receiving a book with 300 pages of text and just a couple of black-and-white pictures bunched up in the middle. The first impression the book makes is unfortunately one that made me wonder whether I would ever be able to wade through all that stuffy, dry information...
But let me correct this impression: "A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World" has turned out to be an extremely interesting read. Dr Newton has succeeded in combining his wealth of information with an accessible style of writing. The chapters are "Thinking about Culture", "A Gaelic History of Scotland", "Gaelic Oral Tradition", "The Organization of Society", "The Operation of Society", "Nature and Ecology", "Landscape and Culture", "Language", "Belief, Tradition, and Science" and "Past and Future Prospects". Not only are all the facts well-founded (the bibliography stretches over 11 pages!) and substantiated by numerous quotations and excerpts from original Gaelic poems, but the author also incorporates his personal thoughts about issues like the meaning of culture in general, changes in language, modern society and technology and its consequences for the individual and the community, to name but a few.
Let me conclude this review by saying that Dr Newton's book is at the same time informative, interesting and thought-provoking, and absolutely recommendable to anyone seriously interested in Scottish Gaelic culture.
But let me correct this impression: "A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World" has turned out to be an extremely interesting read. Dr Newton has succeeded in combining his wealth of information with an accessible style of writing. The chapters are "Thinking about Culture", "A Gaelic History of Scotland", "Gaelic Oral Tradition", "The Organization of Society", "The Operation of Society", "Nature and Ecology", "Landscape and Culture", "Language", "Belief, Tradition, and Science" and "Past and Future Prospects". Not only are all the facts well-founded (the bibliography stretches over 11 pages!) and substantiated by numerous quotations and excerpts from original Gaelic poems, but the author also incorporates his personal thoughts about issues like the meaning of culture in general, changes in language, modern society and technology and its consequences for the individual and the community, to name but a few.
Let me conclude this review by saying that Dr Newton's book is at the same time informative, interesting and thought-provoking, and absolutely recommendable to anyone seriously interested in Scottish Gaelic culture.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
a comprehensive introduction to Gaelic culture
24 Oct 2000
Format:Paperback
Anyone who is interested in any aspect of Scottish Gaelic culture- the language,clan history, pipe or fiddle music, bardic poetry, Highland dance, spirituality and so on- should read this book first. Why? Because all these things are parts of a whole, and this may be the first book to treat them that way. As a result, they are all much easier to understand, and every part of the culture makes sense on a deeper level than in previous studies. The author discusses Gaelic culture in terms of its own traditional values, and in its own words (by quoting many Gaelic poems and songs). This is an almost revolutionary approach, considering how much tartan sentimentalism, New Age marketing and anti-Gaelic propaganda have distorted the picture. This book gives a much clearer view. But there is a coherant philosophy to the book that also puts the Gaelic experience in the context of the broader world. Those who are interested in Celtic spirituality will find many illusions dispelled here. But in the process, they will also be introduced to something far more beautiful and valuable- real Gaelic spirituality and culture, which can only be understood on Gaelic terms. This is a big step in that direction.
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
A Much Needed Primer
23 Jun 2001
Format:Paperback
The most upsetting thing to a student of the Scottish Gaelic Culture is the lack of accurate information available. Among "Brigadoonery", New-Age rosy-coloured romanticism, and commonly available histories of Scotland, the student is faced with errors, misrepresentations, and outright indifference to Gaelic heritage and culture. Dr. Newton's work is the first serious attempt to redress this situation.
"A Handbook of Scottish Gaelic Culture" provides a useful starting place for both the novice and the scholar by describing the culture in its own words. He uses folktales, poetry, songs and stories in Gaelic, with English translations, to support descriptions of all aspects of daily life: work, family, social, spiritual, creative life and entertainment. Many of his sources, being Gaelic, have never been available to the English-speaking student before.
Because Dr. Newton is attempting such a massive undertaking, there are some aspects of the work which are dealt with in less detail than others would like. I found it curious, for instance, that there isn't a section on fishing as a community food source. This was of prime importance in Coastal and Island communities. That said, it must be remembered that this is, after all, a "Handbook", not an "Encyclopaedia". He has included copious notes and an eleven page bibliography for further study for those who wish more information.
This book is valuable for everyone interested in the real culture of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
About time!
5 Oct 2002
Format:Paperback
I'm sick and tired of having to explain to Scottish people why I'm interested in Scottish Gaelic culture. Maybe if they read this book they'll get a good idea why it is important to Scotland as a whole (not just the Highlands), and why we should be preserving the language instead of ignoring it, or being hostile to it. If nothing else I wish someone had come up with a book like this earlier! The nearest equivalent is 'The Companion to Gaelic Scotland' which is really an encyclopedia and contains numerous omissions.
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