Witchcraft And Second Sight In The Highlands And Islands Of Scotland

by John Gregorson Campbell

Witchcraft And Second Sight In The Highlands And Islands Of Scotland is a book written by John Gregorson Campbell. It is a comprehensive study of the history and practice of witchcraft and second sight in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The book explores the beliefs and practices of the people who lived in this region, including their beliefs in the supernatural, their rituals and practices, and their relationships with the natural world.The author draws on a wealth of primary sources, including folklore, oral traditions, and historical records, to provide a detailed and fascinating account of these practices. The book covers a range of topics, including the origins of witchcraft and second sight in the region, the role of witches and seers in society, and the ways in which these practices were viewed and understood by the wider community.Throughout the book, the author provides vivid descriptions of the people, places, and practices that he is writing about, bringing the reader into the world of the Scottish Highlands and Islands in the past. The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of witchcraft and second sight in Scotland, as well as for those interested in the history of the region more broadly.This Is A New Release Of The Original 1902 Edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Scotland, Witchcraft, History, Folklore, Magic, Reference, Nonfiction

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1901

About the author

John Gregorson Campbell (1836 - 1891) was a Scottish folklorist and Free Church minister at the Tiree and Coll parishes in Argyll, Scotland. An avid collector of traditional stories, he became Secretary to the Ossianic Society of Glasgow University in the mid-1850s. Ill health had prevented him taking up employment as a Minister when he was initially approved to preach by the Presbytery of Glasgow in 1858 and later after he was appointed to Tiree by the Duke of Argyll in 1861, parishioners objected to his manner of preaching.

Several of the anecdotes he amassed were published in magazines and, just before his death, work began on collating the first of four compendiums of the tales; three were published a few years after his death. He was fluent in several languages, including Scottish Gaelic, and transcribed the legends precisely as dictated by the narrators.

Reviews

[Shimon de Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more folklore archive than exploration of theory, philosophy or cultural context. Whilst it is useful as a snapshot of traditions that were under threat of erasure, it does little to illuminate us as to the place such views had on the worldview of the people of the Highlands and Islands. This would sadly be left until the scholarship of the 21st century. When religious sensitivities had receded, and people began to openly take pride in their esoteric heritage.

[Rick Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a "How To" book of Scottish Witchcraft as some seem to have been expecting. It is, however, a large collection of Scottish folklore regarding witches, spirits, charms, spells and plant lore. The print is rather small for my old eyes (I have the paperback edition), so be sure to read in lots of light or have a magnifying glass handy. Pagan readers may be put off by the author's skepticism of real witchcraft and his feeble attempts to divorce paganism from any of the practices, but if one chooses to ignore this and simply read through the folklore, certain patterns of belief (magical and pagan) will begin to emerge. It is interesting to read what people believed worked magically during those days (and who is to say that it didn't) I gave only three stars because of the small print, but also since there is no title page, no bibliography, no author bio and very few source references. Still an enjoyable read nonetheless.

[Freya Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of stories but no insight. He's repeating what he's heard but he's not got anything to say about any of it.

[psvansc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for anyone researching Scottish Highland magical traditions.

[ash (mymodernrenaissance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great read found on Kindle and jam packed full of information about Scottish witchcraft in the highlands.

[Lesley-anne Brewster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic. Still interesting though. Often referred to and/or quoted from in later works.