Badenoch's literary giant back in the spotlight
The local man who gave epic Scottish poetry to the world is virtually unknown at home – but two and a half centuries on that injustice is about to be put right.
A major heritage festival takes place this weekend in Kingussie which will mark the 250th anniversary of "The Works of Ossian, son of Fingal", arguably the most influential book ever to emerge from the Highlands.
"It’s amazing but I had never heard of James Macpherson until I visited the Hermitage Museum in Russia," said Mairi Brown, one of the organisers of the two-day event which hopes to put right one of the greatest anomalies in Scottish literature.
"I couldn’t believe that a wee laddie from Badenoch had had such a global impact and that I didn’t even know. Some of the world’s greatest leaders were inspired by the work of a man from Ruthven – it’s said that Napoleon himself carried a copy of the book into war with him."
The excitement is growing at the Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore, says its curator Ruiseart Macpherson.
"We have a section dedicated to James here but it’s true that he is far more famous around the world than on his own doorstep and we all have much to learn.
"Local expert David Taylor has been learning new things even this week as he prepares his own talk. Hopefully there will be lots of Macphersons in the area for the weekend and I can say that many of our members plan to be there.
"There really could be a big spin-off for the area as a result of this festival and we all wish it well."
"Macpherson’s Ossianic Legacy" is being billed as a new exploration of the importance of Ossian and Macpherson, his ‘translator’ and interpreter, who went from virtual rags in a humble cottage on the east side of the Spey in 1736 to the riches that built him Balavil House just a few tumultuous years later on the western side of it.
Macpherson came into the world born at Invertromie, near the settlement of Ruthven and went out of it in 1796 as the laird of a classic country estate, both revered and, by some sceptics, reviled for his ‘rediscovery’ of Ossian, the legendary 3rd Century Celtic bard.
Commemorating the publication of his greatest work, Kingussie Heritage Festival and the University of the Highlands and Islands are holding the two-day festival this weekend with guest speakers, workshops and visits.
The event will explore the remarkable impact of Ossianic poetry across Britain, Europe and the wider world.
Keynote speakers are Dr Howard Gaskill, the leading authority on Ossian, who will discuss the European dimension, and Professor Calum Colvin, one of Scotland’s leading contemporary artists, who will demonstrate his use of Ossianic motifs in art.
Other speakers include Ross Noble, former curator of the Highland Folk Museum, on the 18th Century turf houses of Badenoch, of the type Macpherson grew up in and Dr David Taylor, from Kingussie, on Macpherson’s importance to Badenoch and Clan Macpherson.
The event will feature first editions of Ossian on loan from High Life Highland; a short documentary film on the controversy surrounding Macpherson; a workshop to encourage participants to explore the nature of Ossianic poetry and its enormous popularity; and visits to the Highland Folk Museum township and Balavil House to demonstrate the dramatic change in Macpherson’s circumstances.
It all starts at 9am on Saturday at Talla nan Ros in King Street, Kingussie, with a bookings-only conference dinner at Balavil House on Saturday night. Sunday morning will see sessions at the Iona Gallery and the festival will then return to Talla nan Ross in for the final afternoon.
Full programme details are available at www.macphersonsossianiclegacy.wordpress.com