Tales Until Dawn: The World of a Cape Breton Gaelic Story-Teller by Joe Neil MacNeil


Tales Until Dawn: The World of a Cape Breton Gaelic Story-Teller
Title : Tales Until Dawn: The World of a Cape Breton Gaelic Story-Teller
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0773505601
ISBN-10 : 978-0773505605
Language : English
Format Type : und 1 weitere , Gebundenes Buch, Taschenbuch
Number of Pages : 312 pages
Publication : McGill-Queen's University Press

MacNeil also describes his early years in a Gaelic speaking rural community, where story telling is still a basic element of community life. He explains how he learned the tales and the customs and practices associated with their telling. He also introduces us to the families and individuals who were custodians of the tales. John Shaw's introduction outlines the informant's tradition and its place in the world of the European story teller. The commentaries of MacNeil and Shaw, the tales, the games, and the other folk material offer a rich and unique perspective on the Gaelic culture generally, and as it has developed on Cape Breton Island in particular.

Tales Until Dawn: The World of a Cape Breton Gaelic Story-Teller Reviews

  • LumberBuddy

    Hi all,If you are a Gaelic scholar then this book will mislead you. There are two versions of this book, one is printed solely in English (this version has a red cover) and there is another version that is printed in Gaelic and English (this version has a purple cover).I ordered this book because it is advertised that this is in fact the Gaelic English version of this book (the thumbnail image above shows a purple cover, English "Tales Until Dawn" and Gaelic "Sgeul gu Latha" and states at the bottom "Gaelic English Edition". This is not true. I was not sent the Gaelic English version (the purple cover) I was instead sent the English version (with a red cover and no Gaelic text in or out).This hugely disappointing such that this book and the stories inside are inextricably linked to their original language: Gaelic. Further, this item on , as it is on this page, is entirely misleading because they do not even show you the English version with the red cover nor offer a choice between them. You are lead to believe that you are buying the (far better) version with Gaelic and English and honestly as someone who loves this language, this debacle is a great disservice to the struggling minority language. (Indeed, one of the big problems with Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) literature is that often it is printed with English first, and then Gaelic or, as in this case, no Gaelic at all. This is in stark contrast to Irish (Irish Gaelic/Gaeilge) which will never have English over or before the original language)I would not have ordered this book had I known this was an English only version it simply was not advertised truthfully!If you don't have any Gaelic and would like to connect with the language and culture's rich folklore tradition, especially the unique branch which was able to find for itself a home in Nova Scotia, then this book (the RED covered English only edition, not the purple as advertised) is still of value. If you are interested in Gaelic, Gaelic authenticity, Gaelic revitalization or any other form of interest linked to the language itself, this book will be a disappointment for you as it is for me.