''Saorsa'' is a collection of
short stories
A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...
in
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
edited by Joan NicDhòmhnaill and John Storey and published by
Ùr-sgeul
Ùr-sgeul was an independent publisher of new Scottish Gaelic prose. The name Ùr-sgeul is a Gaelic word which translates variously as: a romance, a novel or a recent tale. Professor Alan Riach, in ''Scottish Literature: An introduction'', summ ...
in 2011. While varied, the stories explore the shared themes of moral ambiguity, subversion and law breaking.
Crime, drugs, plastic surgery, poverty, abuse,
neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for free-market capitalism, which became dominant in policy-making from the late 20th century onward. The term has multiple, competing definitions, and is most often used pe ...
, tourism, cultural identity, migration, murder, love, betrayal, politics, social and economic history are some of the topics explored in the collection.
The stories
In all, ''Saorsa'' includes 13 new short stories from 13 writers:
*''Luathas-teichidh'' by Tim Armstrong
*''Dh'fhalbh sin, 's thà inig seo'' by Maureen NicLeòid
*''Dorsan'' by Annie NicLeòid Hill
*''An Fhianais'' by Mà iri Anna NicDhòmhnaill
*''An Comann'' by Seonaidh Adams
*''Saorsa gun chrìch'' by Mìcheal Klevenhaus
*''An Drochaid'' by Mona Claudia Wagner
*''Sandra agus Ceit'' by Seònaid NicDhòmhnaill
*''Playa de la Suerte'' by Gillebrìde Mac 'IlleMhaoil
*''Iain MacAonghais'' by Neil McRae
*''Euceartas Ait'' by Cairistìona Stone
*''An Dotair Eile'' by PĂ draig MacAoidh
*''Chanadh gun do chuir i Ă s dha'' by
Meg Bateman
Vivienne Margaret 'Meg' Bateman (born 1959) is a Scottish academic, poet and short story writer. She is best known for her works written in Scottish Gaelic; however, she has also published work in the English language.
Education and career
Ba ...
Reception
The collection was generally praised.
Aonghas MacNeacail
Aonghas MacNeacail (born Angus Nicolson; 7 June 1942 – 19 December 2022), nicknamed ("Black-haired Angus"), was a contemporary writer in the Scottish Gaelic language.
Early life
Angus Nicolson was born in Uig on the Isle of Skye on 7 June ...
wrote in a review in the ''
West Highland Free Press'' that the ''Saorsa'' was "a reason for hope and excitement",
and Moray Watson wrote in his review in ''Northwords Now'' that the collection advanced the development of Gaelic prose in general.
References
External links
Review in Northwords Now (Summer 2012) CLAR - Ur-Sgeul imprint publishers
2011 anthologies
Scottish Gaelic literature
{{2010s-story-collection-stub