Vivienne Margaret Bateman is a Scottish academic, poet, and short story writer, best known for her works in Scottish Gaelic. Her writings often delve into human relationships and the idealized notion of love, exploring profound emotions and connections. She publishes her poetry and short stories in both Gaelic and English, enriching the literary landscape and making her work accessible to a broader audience. Her style is characterized by poetic depth and a sensitive portrayal of the human experience.
This anthology features 17th-century Gaelic poetry and songs, including known melodies. It presents 43 poems that reflect the diverse themes of the era, such as work songs, rowing songs, political songs, and expressions of clan loyalty, anger, and grief.
Celebrates the poetry of the well-known Gaelic bard Neil Macleod, with translations, background notes and melodies and publishes the work of Neil's brother, Iain Dubh, and father, Domhnall nan Oran, for the first time. An introductory essay analyses the significance of this family in the Gaelic diaspora.
Meg Bateman vividly evokes the landscape of Scotland, particularly the brooding presences of the Scottish islands and Sutherland, and touches on personal love and loss in this intimate and celebratory collection.