| Reference Number | 204 |
| Title | Bùrn is Aran |
| Author | Mac a’ Ghobhainn, Iain |
| Editor | N/A |
| Date Of Edition | 1960 |
| Date Of Language | mid 20c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 1950-1999 |
| DateMacro | Mid 20th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | Gairm |
| Place Published | Glasgow |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National and academic libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Lewis (Upper Bayble, Point) |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Lewis |
| GeoMacro | Lewis |
| GeoX | -6.2177 |
| GeoY | 58.2049 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Literature, Prose and Verse |
| Register Ed | Literature, Prose and Verse |
| Genre | Literature |
| Medium | Prose & Verse |
| Rating | B 9 short stories and 20 poems by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn in his first published collection of Gaelic prose and verse. The prose in this volume contains excellent examples of the short story genre. The subject-matter of the tales is varied and the Gaelic is simple but expressive. The verse covers a variety of topics, including love, old age, youth, homecoming, and world events. |
| Alternative Author Name | Iain Crichton Smith |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 22cm x 14cm |
| Short Title | Bùrn is Aran |
| Reference Details | NLS: NE.731.d.11 |
| Number Of Pages | 71 |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn (known in English as Iain Crichton Smith) was born in Glasgow in 1928. His parents were both from Lewis, but had left the island in order to find work. They returned to Lewis in 1930 and the three boys (of whom Iain was the second) were brought up in Upper Bayble on the Point peninsula, about seven miles east of Stornoway. Their father died from tuberculosis when Iain was just three years old, leaving his mother to bring up the children alone. Smith spoke Gaelic at home, learning English when he went to primary school in Bayble. He studied at the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, where he became interested in English poetry. He graduated with a degree in English from the University of Aberdeen in 1949, and then gained a teaching qualification at Jordanhill College in Glasgow. He began his teaching career in Clydebank, in 1952, and taught for many years at Oban High School. He retired from teaching in 1977 in order to concentrate on writing. In that same year, he married Donalda Gillies Logan, and became stepfather to her two sons. After suffering a breakdown in 1982, he continued writing both in Gaelic and in English. He died of cancer at his home in Taynuilt in October 1998. Smith was a prolific writer of both poetry and prose in English and in Gaelic. Smith’s first book of poetry, The Long River, was published in 1955. His best known work in English is his novel Consider the Lilies, which tells of an old woman’s struggle during the Highland Clearances. His first collection of Gaelic poems and short stories, Bùrn is Aran, was published in 1960. He went on to publish a number of volumes of short stories including Text 205, An Dubh is an Gorm (1963), An t-Adhar Ameireaganach (1973) and Na Guthan (1991). He also published a number of short novels, including Text 198, An t-Aonaran (1976) and Na Speuclairean Dubha (1989), and a number of poetry collections, including Eadar Fealla-Dhà is Glaschu (1974) and Na h-Eilthirich (1983). Smith also wrote plays and translated Gaelic poetry (e.g. Sorley MacLean’s Dain do Eimhir) into English. Recurring themes in Smith’s writing include religion, exile, alienation, island life and identity, and language. |
| Contents | After the Roimh-ràdh (p. 5) and Clàr-Innsidh (p. 7), the nine short stories are printed as follows: Turus Dhachaidh I (pp. 9-12), An Coigreach (pp. 13-18), An Fhidheall (pp. 19-24), Briseadh Cridhe (pp. 25-31), Bùrn (pp. 32-36), Clachan Chalanais (pp. 37-42), Turus Dhachaidh II (pp. 43-47), An Duine Dubh (pp. 48-49); Am Bàrd (pp. 50-55). There follows a section entitled ‘Bardachd’, which contains 20 poems on a variety of subjects. The nine short stories in this volume cover a variety of topics, and touch on themes such as loneliness and alienation. They are excellent examples of the short story genre. The stories are generally told in the third person, offer many insights into the thoughts and feelings of the primary character. Each story takes place over a short period of time, though flashbacks are sometimes used to put the current situation into context. An Duine Dubh tells of an old woman, living alone in a city, who receives a visit from a foreign travelling salesman. Through their interaction, we learn of their loneliness and their longing for their own homes, and we are given glimpses into the old woman’s past. Bùrn tells of two soldiers during the second world war – one British and one German – as they struggle to understand the war that they are fighting, as well as each other, as they share no common language. The British soldier eventually shoots the German soldier, who he feared was going to kill him. In fact, the German soldier was only going to offer him a drink of his water. Turus Dhachaidh II tells of a young man’s return to his native island, and to his father’s house. During the course of the story, we learn something of his travels, and of his decision to leave his home. Briseadh Cridhe is a murder mystery, in which a policeman finds out the truth about the apparently accidental death of an elderly man. |
| Sources | |
| Language | Mac a’ Ghobhainn’s prose makes good use of imagery and symbolism, and he uses such incidental details as colours and seasons to create atmosphere. The following examples are typical: Bha a gàire mar earrach fo’n chlogaid shneachd (An Duine Dubh, p. 49); ghnog e air an dorus mar pholas (Clachan Chalanais, p. 39); Bha a h-aodann buidhe leis an t-solus (id., p. 37); Shaoil e gu robh sgian ’na guth (id., p. 37). Mac a’ Ghobhainn’s stories also contain many expressive adjectives and descriptive terms, e.g.: luaisgeanach (p. 16), coibhneil (p. 16), truagh meata (p. 26), tiugh dearg (p. 26), cho làidir ris an each (p. 26), and na léine ghuirm (p. 26). The language is very varied, e.g.: crodh-bainne a cheannachd (p. 27), tinneas-cridhe (p. 27), Abair amaideas (p. 30), ceannaiche-siubhail (p. 47), gealtaire (p. 54), cansar (p. 55). Idiomatic phrases include the following: chan e gu robh càil seach-an-rathad ann (p. 26), air ceann a dhà stocainn (p. 27), and Dé tha tighinn rithe? (p. 55). Mac a’ Ghobhainn’s poems in this volume embrace a variety of subjects, touching on love, old age, youth, homecoming, and world events (e.g. the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima). This volume includes some of his best-known poems, e.g.: Tha thu air Aigeann m’Inntinn, A’ Dol Dhachaidh, A’ Chailleach, Aig a’ Chladh, and A Nighean Og. The poems come in a variety of verse forms; their language is often deceptively simple. Aig Clachan Chalanais may serve as an example: ‘Aig clachan Chalanais an dé \ Chuala mi té ag ràdh ri t’éile: \ “So far na loisg iad clann o shean.” \ Chan fhaca mi druidhean anns na reultan \ no grian na gùn: ach chunna mi \ ball brèagha gorm mar nèamh a’ sgàineadh \ is clann le craiceann slaodadh riutha \ mar a’ bhratach sna dh’ìobradh Nagasàki.’ (p. 64). |
| Orthography | While certain words and forms indicate that the author is a speaker of Lewis Gaelic (e.g. bùrn ‘water’), it is not his aim to produce dialectal texts, either in prose or verse. The orthography is typical of the mid-twentieth century. Both accents are used. |
| Edition | First edition. This volume was reprinted, without the verse, in 1974 and again in 1987. The orthography appears to be the same in these editions, although the typeface was updated. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | Thomson, Derick S., ed., The Companion to Gaelic Scotland (Glasgow, 1994: Gairm). ODNB article on Smith: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/71190 |
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| Download File | |
| NumWords | 18377 |
