Tell me about the Exhibition
Folktales from the Scottish Highlands is a free exhibition in the National Library of Scotland, found on George IV Bridge in the Old Town of Edinburgh. It’s focus is the story and wonderful storytelling harvest of an aristocrat from the 1800s, John Francis Campbell. John left a lasting legacy in the preservation and documentation of Gaelic folklore.
The exhibition ends 20th April 2024.
Photo Credit: Fraser Paterson - with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland
Where can I find it?
This link to the location of the main building of the National Library of Scotland, from Google Maps UK, will help you locate it.
Folktales from the Scottish Highlands is a bilingual exhibition. There are clear explanations in Gaelic and English.
Can I Access his Journals Remotely?
There are readily available remote means of accessing the fascinating Gaelic tales in John’s four volume work Popular Tales of the West Highlands.
You should be able to access the digitised Campbell journals without even having to be a registered as a reader at the National Library of Scotland!
You can get them from the main landing page
- at the top, select "Digital resources"
- then select "Digital Gallery"
- scroll down a bit and select "Historical manuscripts"
- select "John Francis Campbell of Islay". You should see a list of his journals to click on.
In these you will find many enchanting stories. For example, in the first two volumes alone there are The Three Soldiers, The Battle of the Birds, The Seal-Catcher and the Mermen and many more!
What Inspired John Francis Campbell’s Interest in Fairytales?
John’s interest in fairytales was sparked by Arabian Knights, a book he began reading at just seven years of age. Arabian Knights is a collection of folk tales and stories from the Islamic Golden Age. The seven hundreds to the thirteen hundreds. This famous collection of Arabian stories includes Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp and Sinbad the Sailor.
Why did John Gather Highland Folk Tales?
In earlier centuries, Scottish Gaelic folk tales were almost unknown beyond the Highlands. In 1859 John began recording them. He garnered a rich harvest of tales. Knowing that what had previously been a widespread pastime, the telling of these tales, was fast dying out, his purpose was to remember what was still being rescued.
How did John Gather his Stories?
John would travel the Scottish Highlands, listening to the stories of many. He had a trustworthy and hard-working companion on many of these journeys. Hector MacLean, a schoolmaster from Islay in in the 1800s was his most active helper, writing down the stories John was hearing at story recording sessions.
Photo Credit: Fraser Paterson - with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland
Who were those who told him their Stories?
His main source of story tellers were residents of from the north-western isles of Scotland, the outer Hebridean islands of Berneray and North Uist.
John McDonald was described by one of John’s storytelling recorders thus.
He wanders all over the Highlands, and lives in a tent with his family. He can neither read nor write. He repeats some of his stories fluently. I followed his recitation as closely as possible, but it was exceedingly difficult for me to keep him stationary for any length of time.
If you think Folktales of the Scottish Highlands was pirely focussed on John Francis Campbells endeavours, be surprised, very surprised, in part two.
I hope you have enjoyed your read! To make it possible for me to keep writing for your enjoyment, I would appreciate it greatly if you were generous enough to Buy Me Coffee please.
Thank you.
Fraser Paterson
Freelance Writer & Tour Guide