Description
By Sir George Douglas. Step into the enchanted world of Scotland’s ancient legends, where fairies dance beneath moonlit hills, mysterious creatures roam lonely glens, and old stories passed down through generations come vividly to life.
In Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales, Sir George Douglas gathers a rich collection of traditional Scottish legends, myths, and supernatural stories drawn from the folklore of the Highlands and Lowlands. Filled with wonder, mystery, humor, and adventure, this classic volume preserves the storytelling traditions of a Scotland shaped by centuries of oral history and belief.
Within these pages readers will encounter fairies, kelpies, brownies, witches, giants, and ghostly apparitions, alongside tales of brave heroes, cunning tricksters, and strange happenings in castles, forests, and remote villages. The stories reflect the fears, hopes, and imagination of generations who lived close to the rugged landscapes and ancient traditions of Scotland. Rich in atmosphere and cultural heritage, the collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the folklore that inspired Scottish literature and national identity.
Written in an engaging and accessible style, Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales captures the timeless charm of fireside storytelling while preserving many traditional narratives that might otherwise have been forgotten. More than a simple collection of fairy tales, it is an important record of Scotland’s cultural memory and legendary past.
This carefully restored reprint revives a beloved classic of Scottish folklore for modern readers. Perfect for lovers of mythology, folklore, fantasy, and Celtic tradition, Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales continues to enchant readers with its haunting beauty, magical adventures, and enduring connection to the old world of Scottish legend.
About the author: Sir George Douglas (1850–1935) was a Scottish writer, historian, and folklorist known for his works on Scottish history, literature, and traditional culture. He authored numerous books on Scotland’s legends, songs, and national heritage, helping preserve many traditional tales and aspects of Scottish folklore for future generations.
Contents
Introduction
The Three Green Men of Glen Nevis
Nursery Stories
The Story of the White Pet; The Milk-White Doo; The Croodin Doo; The Cattie Sits in the Kiln-Ring Spinning; Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren; The Tempted Lady; The Fause Knight and the Wee Boy; The Strange Visitor; Rashin-Coatie.
Stories of Animals
The Fox Outwitted; The Fox Troubled with Fleas; The Fox and the Bagpipes; The Fox’s Stratagem; The Fox and the Wrens; The Fox and the Cock; How the Wolf Lost His Tail; Frog and Crow; The Grouse Cock and His Wife; The Eagle and the Wren; The Wren’s Presumption; The Two Foxes; The Bee and the Mouse; The Two Mice; Alexander Jones.
Fairy Tales
The Fairies of Scotland; The Fairy and the Miller’s Wife; Sir Godfrey Macculloch; The Laird o’ Co’; Habitrot; The Tulman; The Isle of Pabaidh; Sanntraigh; Water Fairies; Fairy Transportation; The Poor Man of Peatlaw; The Fairy Boy of Leith; “Mind the Crooked Finger”; The Two Young Ploughmen; The Smith and the Fairies; The Lothian Farmer’s Wife; Redemption from Fairy Land; The Fairy and the Bible Reader; Thom and Willie; The Gloaming Bucht; The Fairy’s Song; The Faithful Purse-Bearer.
The Brownie, the Bogle, the Kelpy, Mermen, Demons
The Scottish Brownie; The Brownie of Bodsbeck; The Brownie and the Thievish Maids; The Bogle; The Doomed Rider; Graham of Morphie; The Fisherman and the Merman; The Mermaid Wife; The Seal-Catcher’s Adventure; The Mermaid of Knockdolion; The Young Laird of Lorntie; Nuckelavee; The Two Shepherds; Fatlips; The Silly Mutton.
Witchcraft
Macgillichallum of Razay; The Witch of Laggan; The Blacksmith’s Wife of Yarrowfoot; The Miller of Holdean; Ronaldson of Bowden; The Farmer’s Wife of Deloraine; Laird Harry Gilles; The Missing Web; The Witches of Delnabo; The Brazen Brogues.
Comic Tales
The Wee Bunnock; The Shifty Lad, the Widow’s Son; Lothian Tom; The Ploughman’s Glory; The Witty Exploits of Mr. George Buchanan; The King’s Fool.
Literary Tales
The Haunted Ships; Elphin Irving; Cousin Mattie; Rat Hall.
