Braigh an Orain
a Story in Every Song : the Songs and Tales of Lauchie MacLellan

Looks at the life and work of a 20th century Gaelic singer-storyteller from Cape Breton. This book shows how the inherited art of a 4th generation Canadian Gael fits within biographical, social, and historical contexts. The 48 songs and 9 folktales in the collection are transcribed from field recordings and presented as the singer performed them.

The book also includes a brief autobiography in Lauchie MacLellan's entertaining narrative style. John Shaw has added extensive notes and references, as well as photos and maps. In an era of growing appreciation of Celtic cultures, "Brigh an Orain - A Story in Every Song" makes an important Gaelic tradition available to the general reader. The materials also serve as a unique, adaptable resource for those with more specialised research or teaching interests in ethnology/folklore, Canadian studies, Gaelic language, ethnomusicology, Celtic studies, anthropology, and social history. John Shaw is a senior lecturer in Scottish ethnology at the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh.