Alexander Sutherland – författare

«We have here a masterly, well-indexed and clear account of the evolution of the legend of the Brahan Seer over the centuries, one that will add a contextual depth in understanding to the many sources which give the prophesies attributed to him. Sutherland manages to inform his readers of the way in which tales and traditions were transmitted in Gaelic culture, on the externally generated romantic images of the Highlands as well as their appropriation by the natives.»(Iwan Wmffre, University of Ulster)The Brahan Seer is a legendary figure known throughout Scotland and the Scottish diaspora, indeed anywhere there are people with an interest in looking into the future. This book traces the legend of the Seer between the sixteenth and twenty-first centuries. It considers the seer figure in relation to aspects of Scottish Highland culture and society that shaped its development during this period. These include the practice of witchcraft and prosecution of witches; the reporting of and scientific investigation of instances of second sight; and the perennial belief in and use of prophecy as a means of predicting events. In so doing the book provides a set of historicised contexts for understanding the genesis of the legend and how it changed over time through a synthesis of historical events, oral tradition, folklore and literary Romanticism. It contributes to the debates about witchcraft, second sight and prophecy and the relationship between ‘popular’ and ‘elite’ culture in Scotland. By taking the Brahan Seer as a case study it argues that ‘popular’ culture is not antithetical to ‘elite’ culture but rather in constant (and complex) interaction with it.

The Artist William Keith: A Scots Giant Among the Redwoods reveals the rise of William Keith (November 18, 1838? – April 13, 1911), a fatherless child from a humble presbyterian upbringing in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland to an eminent position in the artistic and civic circles of Gold Rush-era San Francisco. Illustrated with 20 images, Alexander Sutherland’s detailed and engaging study traces Keith’s personal, family and artistic influences, his lively personality and his drive to make a name for himself.Brought to America by his widowed mother in 1851, Keith’s initial career in wood engraving was superseded by an interest in painting. He later trained in Europe, influenced by German Realism, the Barbizon painters in Paris, and later, studying portraiture in Munich. However, his major artistic shift came in 1872, when he befriended fellow Scot, John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914), a conservationist and environmentalist.Their numerous trips into the mountains of Yosemite and other wilderness regions in search of suitable subjects for painting was the catalyst for a thirty-eight-year friendship and cemented Keith’s success as a landscape painter. A later influence was landscape artist George Inness (1825-94), who helped Keith find a way out of a period of despondency. Keith’s later years in San Francisco were characterised by cosmopolitan and Suffragist connections and influence in the bohemian art world of California. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 destroyed much of his life’s work but Keith responded pragmatically producing further work -tangible evidence of his remarkable resilience.

This book looks at the relationship of the cock and cockfighting in Britain from ancient times to the early modern period, showing the societal and cultural changes that affected that relationship. It examines the evolution of the cock’s role in religion and sport and, the evolution of cockfighting as a sport, in light of the changing culture of pastimes, the historical development of humankind’s relationship with animals, and the philosophy related to animal cruelty and animal rights.

This book looks at the relationship of the cock and cockfighting in Britain from ancient times to the early modern period, showing the societal and cultural changes that affected that relationship. It examines the evolution of the cock’s role in religion and sport and, the evolution of cockfighting as a sport, in light of the changing culture of pastimes, the historical development of humankind’s relationship with animals, and the philosophy related to animal cruelty and animal rights.

This book looks at the relationship of the cock and cockfighting in Britain from the Enlightenment through the modern era, showing the societal and culture changes that affected that relationship. It examines the evolution of the cock in religion and sport, the evolution of cockfighting as a sport, the changing culture of pastimes, and the historical development of humankind’s relationship with animals and the philosophy of cruelty to animals and their rights.

This book looks at the relationship of the cock and cockfighting in Britain from the Enlightenment through the modern era, showing the societal and culture changes that affected that relationship. It examines the evolution of the cock in religion and sport, the evolution of cockfighting as a sport, the changing culture of pastimes, and the historical development of humankind’s relationship with animals and the philosophy of cruelty to animals and their rights.