Hunting the Fairies

by Compton Mackenzie

Hunting the Fairies

Genres: Scotland, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Compton Mackenzie was born into a theatrical family. His father, Edward Compton, was an actor and theatre company manager; his sister, Fay Compton, starred in many of James M. Barrie's plays, including Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. He was educated at St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford where he obtained a degree in Modern History.

Mackenzie was married three times and aside from his writing also worked as an actor, political activist, and broadcaster. He served with British Intelligence in the Eastern Mediterranean during World War I, later publishing four books on his experiences. Compton Mackenzie was from 1920–1923 Tenant of Herm and Jethou and he shares many similarities to the central character in D.H. Lawrence's short story The Man Who Loved Islands, despite Lawrence saying "the man is no more he than I am." Mackenzie at first asked Secker, who published both authors, not to print the story and it was left out of one collection.

Reviews

[Lady Drinkwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rivalry between two American ladies, members of a celtic society, and searching for examples of the paranormal in the Scottish highlands, along with the shenanigans of various locals who try to get what they can out of them ( particularly whiskey) makes for a delightful and very funny read. A bit like Matt and Lucia but with better scenery.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gaelic Delusions of Grandeur”

This lighthearted gem takes up three years after the events depicted in MASTER OF THE GLEN. History repeats itself as an American social invasion sets the loose plot in motion. This time the protagonist is 50-year-old Kilwhillie—best friend of Donald Ben Nevis (who featured prominently as host and bastion of Celtic customs in the former novel.) Ah—there is nothing as effective at stirring up Scotts’ complacency and somnolent attitudes as an invasion from America—especially those who arrive bearing a definite genealogical Agenda.

With wry humor and endearing wit the author transports his
readers into the highland of post WW1. Our bachelor and
mustachioed host of Glenbogle suddenly finds his relaxed lifestyle turned into turmoil when attractive widow Mrs. Urquhart-Unwin (Yu-Yu to her friends) arrives for the summer with her comely 19- year-old daughter, Deirdre. While the laird gradually finds himself attracted to the girl her mother has an ambitious list of things to accomplish on her summer holiday—all for the glory of the Ossianic Society of Boston--of which she is the proud president. She intends to collect (on wax cylinders of a prototype Victrola.) tales of Celtic lore from local storytellers; the sounds of seals singing off the islands; evenphotographic images of paranormal activity if possible. Of course her crowning achievement would be the recording of actual fairy music in the nocturnal woods.

Alas, her rival and Society nemesis, in the undaunted form of Mrs. Linda Wolfingham, arrives that same summer with similar intentions. In fact, she connives to discredit Yu-Yu and install herself as President of the prestigious Boston group. Meanwhile Kilwhillie is roped into these female machinations, causing him to resort for advice to Ben Nevis and his wife, Beatrice. Thus the formidable Yankee ladies engage in a series of skirmishes--outrageous schemes to foil and discredit each other. They prove not the only ones to be “hunting fairies” in the highlands, for the poor Laird (a confirmed bachelor with no heir for his estate) has no idea how to proceed with his probably hopeless courtship.

The style is easy to read except for intermittent Gaelic expressions, rambling poems or song lyrics, not to mention various
specific clan accoutrements. Secretly masquerading as a foreigner’s guide to matters Gaelic this delightful story contains much information, casually dispensed, re Scottish customs and the time-honored traditions to administer an estate. One can almost believe that in this isolated little world of the bygone Highland an sincere person could truly hunt and record the fairies.

September 13, 2014

[Francisca · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was quite the surprise considering i had no idea going in on what it was about. turns out, you don't really need much insight into its contents to actually enjoy it. just a light, breezy book without an actual conflict escalating into an actual climax to spend some time without thinking too hard or trying too much to get to the point. still, i think if i were more familiar with the phonetic system of either scottish standard english or scottish gaelic, i would have gotten more of the jokes and puns throughout the book. not that it was frustrasting or annoying to just assume something was funny and move on unto the next page.

[Sir Robbiethehoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

One can tell this man was born in 1883 and it comes as no surprise that he was President of the Siamese Cat Society.

A charming and at times humourous and witty tale of highland revelry. A very quaint wee book with a nice story and highland descriptions. Although I will say some perseverance is needed as it has a bit of a dated feel and some of the references I simply did not get at all. But a very nice book to pass a few hours. Perhaps best enjoyed in the highlands.

[Geoff Garnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is clear that Compton Mackenzie loved words, inventing names for people and places, and wrote with a fluency. This a lightly humorous book with aristocracy and and blue bloods who are emotionally stunted, with too much time on their hands. My copy was published in 1949. It is interesting that only of few of Mackenzie's books are still in print including the a prequel to this The Monarch of the Glen.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic and wonderful

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! A must read for Monarch of the Glen fans.