ERSKINE : Mapping the Scottish Gaelic Revival at the Fin de Siècle: Ruaraidh Erskine of Mar and His Networks

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Ruaraidh Erskine of Mar (1869-1960) was an influential activist, author, and editor, deeply involved in the cultural and political flux at the fin-de-siecle and in initiatives related to Scottish independence and revitalisation of Gaelic. My project will explore the five periodicals - Am Bard ("The Poet", 1901-1902, monthly), Guth na Bliadhna ("The Year's Voice", 1904-1925, quarterly), Alba ("Scotland", 1908-1909, weekly), An Sgeulaiche ("The Storyteller", 1909-1910 monthly, 1911 quarterly), and An Rosarnach ("The Rose Garden", 1917, 1918, 1921, 1930, annual) - in the context of their production and reception. The periodicals attracted a network of local writers and international contributors, were instrumental in the creation of modern Gaelic literature and journalism and combined a cosmopolitan outlook, political radicalism, and popular appeal. With their sustained interest in developments in other Celtic countries and in Europe, and progressive ideas about reforming and promoting Gaelic culture, they served as hubs of international cooperation and roots of creative industries, as they encouraged the emergence of the first Gaelic novels and supported the development of Gaelic drama. In recent decades, the field of Gaelic literary studies in general has been growing substantially, but there is still little or no published research on some of the most influential figures and trends. However, there has been very little research on Erskine himself and no focused research on the Gaelic periodicals which he founded and ran, and on his contributors, which makes my project timely and relevant, given the current discussions of Gaelic in Scotland and Scotland in Europe after Brexit.