From Mortal Enemies to Brothers in Arms On the Eve of the Largest Clan Gathering in History, Alan Taylor Asks Modern-Day Chieftains How Scotland's Tribes Are Faring in the 21st Century
Linked as:
Summary
In Scotland, anyone who is anyone lives in a castle. Most of these, to perpetuate the romantic myth, are in an attractive state of ruinous decrepitude. The roof leaks, the wind whinnies through cracks in the mullioned windows, central heating is on the wish- list and the unforgiving flagstone floors echo to the sound of hobnailed boots worn by retainers more ancient than the ragged Saltire that flutters on the ramparts.
Nevertheless, a few rooms are habitable, especially if you've had the privilege of attending one of the hardline public schools. At breakfast a piper circumnavigates the oak table, puffing as hard as his 60-a-day smoking habit will allow, while Hector McBogle of McBogle, chief of Clan Bogle, in residence for the "Glorious Twelfth", lines his stomach with a bowl of molten porridge as if it were a form of cavitywall insulation before leading a party of guests on to moors where the grouse await their fate.See the full content of this document
Extract
From Mortal Enemies to Brothers in Arms On the Eve of the Largest Clan Gathering in History, Alan Taylor Asks Modern-Day Chieftains How Scotland's Tribes Are Faring in the 21st Century
We are deep into Monarch of the Glen terrain, scene of many dark deeds, saccharine Hollywood movies and cliched TV series. This is Scotland as few Scots ever experience it. Does it really exist? More importantly, does it matter?
What cannot be disputed is that it has entered international lore and become the lens through which others prefer to view us. The Highlands, with its clans and their chiefs and the backdrop of history and the sense of kinship, remain almost as symbolically potent today as they were all those decades ago when Bonnie Prince Charlie marched his men up hill and down dale to inglorious defea...See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
