Duanaire na Sracaire: Songbook of the Pillagers

Book excerpt: Duanaire na Sracaire is the first anthology to bring together Scotland's Gaelic poetry from the millenium c.600-1600 AD, when Scotland shared its rich culture with Ireland. It includes a huge range of diverse poetry: prayers and hymns of Iona, Fenian lays, praise poems and satires, courtly songs and lewd rants, songs of battle and death, incantations and love poems. All poems appear with facing-page translations which capture the spirit and beauty of the originals and are accompanied by detailed notes. A comprehensive introduction sets the context and analyses the role and functions of poetry in Gaelic society. This collection will appeal to poetry lovers, Gaelic speakers and those keen to explore a vital part of Scotland's literary heritage.