Margaret Bennett's literary focus is on traditional Scottish folk culture and the cultural identity of Scots, both within Scotland and globally. Her writings delve into the rich heritage of Scottish folklore, exploring how Scottish identity is maintained across diverse populations. Bennett offers a profound understanding of her subject matter, with prose that reflects a deep respect for tradition.
A highly readable and absorbing collection of traditions surrounding rites of passage, drawing upon a broad range of literary and oral sources from the sixteenth century to the present day.
In 1952 when these songs and rhymes were recorded in Hilltown, Dundee there may not have been a street or playground anywhere where the sound of children singing and playing was part of everyday life. Although there had been Scottish collectors of 'bairn sangs' since the 1820s, it was not until the 1940s that anyone in Scotland audio-recorded the actual sound of playground voices. These recordings of school children captured the vitality of the local dialect, the spontaneity of their language-use outside the classroom, their repertoire of songs, rhymes and games, their musicality , as well as the sounds that echo the speed and accuracy of their hand-eye co-ordination. (Audio links included in the notes).