Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children

Duncan Williamson was a Scottish traveller who went on to become one of Britain’s master story-tellers. During his lifetime he was acclaimed ‘the greatest English-speaking storyteller’, ‘the national monument of British storytelling’ and, at his death, Scotland’s ‘greatest contemporary storyteller’. “Fireside Tales”, his first book, reveals this artistry and mastery in all its glory. This new edition is edited by his wife, Linda Williamson. “Fireside Tales” is narrated with an intense commitment to generations of the travelling people, who used animal fables, wonder tales and splendid horror stories to instill in their children moral judgment and a knowledge of right and wrong. At every corner the technical skill of the narrator is revealed, his ingenious mixture of conversation and action, frequent change of pace, use of the first person – all attributes of the born storyteller which compel attention, where tension and excitement are at fever pitch throughout. With a universality that can relate to every reader, this book represents one of the great collections of traveller stories.

Reviews of Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children

'Duncan Williamson's stories: a priceless part of our heritage, to be savoured' – Edinburgh Evening News 'Scotland's greatest modern-day storyteller' – The Guardian 'Exemplary and delightful' – Times Educational Supplement