The Furrow Behind Me

by Angus MacLellan, John Lorne Campbell (Translation)

MacLellan’s reminiscences were first recorded in Gaelic in the early 1960s, and later transcribed and translated by John Lorne Campbell intothis outstanding English language autobiography. Written in an unusual yet captivating prose style, this is a life story in the oral tradition.Born in 1869 into a poverty-stricken crofting community on South Uist, Angus MacLellan spent his childhood and youth with his family beforetravelling to the island to find work first in the militia and then on the farms of the mainland. His travels came to an end when he returned toassist, and eventually to succeed his parents on their croft on South Uist in 1900.

Genres: Scotland, History

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Scottish Gaelic name: mac Aonghais 'ic Eachainn 'ic Dhòmhnaill 'ic Chaluim 'ic Dhòmhnaill. Traditional storyteller and singer from Frobost, South Uist.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read quite a few dark, serious books lately so it was a relief to read this relatively light hearted memoir, which was leant to me by a family member.

Angus MacLellan was born on the island of South Uist in 1869 and recounted these memories to the folklorist John Lorne Campbell, who recorded them from January 1960 to April 1961, when Angus was between 90 and 91 years of age. The original recordings are in Scottish Gaelic - English was very much a second language to Angus MacLellan. This English language edition is therefore a translation.

MacLellan's parents were landless cottars and therefore people who lived in desperate poverty. To make a living Angus worked on farms on the mainland for a six month or twelve month "fee", a common practice during this era. This memoir largely concerns his time working on 4 different farms during the 1890s, two in Perthshire, one by Loch Lomond and the other at Dalmally, Argyll. It's not at all a "misery memoir." By the standards of the day MacLellan was treated fairly by the farmers he worked for (although of course by today's standards we would consider his hours and conditions as abominable). Much of the account is taken up with amusing anecdotes rather than social observations, but there are still some interesting insights into life in late Victorian rural Scotland.

This is not as good as some other accounts of this time and place, notably the excellent "A School in South Uist," and at times the author talks himself up too much. It has its moments though. I would rate it at about a 7/10, but have rounded up rather than down. Enjoyable.

[J.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would agree with Ian's review. The book's main interest for me was that my paternal ancestors had been fee'd men, as was Angus. His stories would have sounded much better from himself in Gaelic, but I know of no better translator of Gaelic into English than John Lorne Campbell. If you ever wondered how people eked out a living on meagre crofts in the Outer Hebrides, especially prior to the establishment of the Crofters' Commission in 1886, then here's the answer - they didn't. They picked up whatever seasonal work they could get elsewhere and returned home when they could. It's an authentic record, and has its entertaining moments. I read it aloud on local radio. I think the most illuminating part for me was that, after Lady Gordon Cathgart was forced to make land available to crofters and cottars in the island of Vatersay, her tenant farmer there seems to have gone to Angus' home island of South Uist and to have immediately forbidden the use by crofters of dogs on the hill to round up their sheep. That would have made life even harder for them. However, Angus seems to have got round that in much the same way as he got round many other difficulties in his life - by sticking to his guns, being respectful but not subservient, using the odd trick or two and generally having right on his side! Well, he was from Uist after all!