Category: Scotland
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John Oswald, a Scottish Adventurer
John Oswald had been born in Edinburgh in 1760, a son of either a blacksmith or an innkeeper. It is said that it was his father who gave him his love of writing and literature. That is surprising, because neither profession is usually associated with such passions. On the other hand, late 18th century had…
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Thaddeus Ever Valiant
There’s always the hope that there might remain a brilliant female writer from the 1700s or early 1800s who has been lost to obscurity. That’s why, over the years, I go back once in a while to read someone new to me. One of these is Jane Porter, who along with her sister Maria became…
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‘To Bay or Not to Bay’: Did Shakespeare Talk Country?
When I was in college, the drama department at the University of Arkansas wanted to do a bang-up job on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Over the summer, they sent the actor playing the lead role off to study proper enunciation. He returned with an impeccable rendition, but no one anticipated the disconnect for the audience caused by…
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“The Most Perfect Creature from Heaven”
Scottish Deerhounds combine a nobility of spirit with massive size and superb athleticism. What better dog could there be for Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley?
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Haud Hogmanay! Lang May Yer Lum Reek!
The celebration of the New Year is one of humanity’s oldest and most universal traditions, rooted in ancient customs and cultural practices. But everyone does it a little bit differently. Here’s a short overview of the unique and lovely Scottish new years tradition of Hogmanay.
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Housemaids and Early Hours in Edinburgh
Recently I was reading about Regency housemaids and their chores and salary. I’ve looked up details about servants before, but this time I stumbled across an article with the National Trust for Scotland that chronicled the actual schedule and budget of a Regency/Georgian era family in Edinburgh. It was fascinating. The housemaid for the Lamont…
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Is it fact or is it fiction?
While writing, it can be fun to do research on the happenings during the time frame. You can blend the truth and false to make a story better.
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…Let social cheer/ Invest the dawnin’ o’ the year
My post on the first of December explained how the Kirk of Scotland frowned upon (our outright outlawed for a time) celebrations at Christmas – deeming them as too frivolous for a Christian holy day; thus today, I wish to share how the average Scotsman found a way to bring warmth, light, and fun to…
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Hae a Braw Wee Christmas
Happy December, dear readers! When researching Mistaken Premise, my little nerd heart tap-danced whilst learning the multi-faceted and fascinating history of Christmas in Scotland. As one could expect, there is evidence of neolithic people’s observances of the winter solstice, but the real fun comes after the Viking invasions starting in the eighth-century AD. The Vikings…