Book description
Thirty years ago, the Gaelic language and culture which had been
eminent in Scotland for 1,300 years seemed to be in the final stages of
a 200-year terminal decline. The number of Gaelic speakers in Scotland
had fallen tenfold over the previous century. The language itself was
commonplace only in the scattered communities of the north-west
Highlands and Hebrides. By the early years of the 21st century, however,
a sea-change had taken place. Gaelic - for so long a subject of mockery
and hostility - had become what some termed 'fashionable'.
Gaelic-speaking jobs were available; Gaelic-medium education was
established in many areas; and politicians and business-people saw
benefits in acting as friends of the culture. While the numbers of
Gaelic-speakers continued to fall as older people passed away, the
decline was slowed and for the first time in 100 years the percentage of
young people using the language began to rise proportionately. What had
happened was a kind of renaissance: a Gaelic revival that manifested
itself in popular music, literature, art, poetry, publishing, drama,
radio and television. It was a phenomenon as obvious as it was
unexpected. And at the heart of that movement lay education. A Gaelic
Modern History will tell the story of one institution, Sabhal Mor
Ostaig, the Gaelic College in Skye that has stood at the centre of this
revival. But, chiefly, the book will examine how a venerable culture was
given hope for the future at the point when all seemed lost. It recounts
the scores of personalities, from Sorley Maclean and Runrig to Michael
Forsyth and Gordon Brown, who have become involved in that process.
Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist. His previous
books include High Sixties: The Summers of Riot and Love, All the Sweets
of Being: A Life of James Boswell, Empire Games: The British Invention
of Twentieth-Century Sport and The Toon: A Complete History of Newcastle
United Football Club. He lives in London.
