Luath Storyteller – serie

Whether dodging the men of the excise, fighting with government troops or simply indulging in a spot of the national sport of drinking whisky, Scots have long had a true love affair with their favourite amber nectar. In this book writer and storyteller Stuart McHardy, known to take a dram or ten himself, draws upon the wide range of tales associated with the world's finest tipple, to make you laugh, cry and wonder!

For many centuries the people of Scotland have told stories of their ancestors, a mysterious tribe called the Picts.This ancient Celtic-speaking people, who fought off the might of the Roman Empire, are perhaps best known for their Symbol Stones – images carved into standing stones left scattered across Scotland, many of which have their own stories. Here for the first time these tales are gathered together with folk memories of bloody battles, chronicles of warriors and priestesses, saints and supernatural beings.From Shetland to the border with England, these ancient memories of Scotland’s original inhabitants have flourished since the nation’s earliest days and now are told afresh, shedding new light on our ancient past.

Storytelling is a traditional art form which has survived through the centuries and is still being enjoyed today. These tales of Celtic Heroes, Magicians and Vikings were originally told around 200 AD, and have been passed down orally, often verbatim, through generations of storytellers. The oldest Gaelic storybook, dating 260 AD, is preserved in the Housemann Museum in Switzerland and contains many of the stories which are recounted today. The whole idea of the preservation of the Scottish culture is at the root of this fascinating tradition, with established storytellers taking on apprentices until the Disarming Act of 1746 made it difficult and dangerous to do so. Storytelling became family centred. This collection of stories convey the imagination, hopes, fears, and passions of an ancient people. The personalities and culture of people long gone are brought to life by the storyteller's words.