The Shepherd's Calendar

by James Hogg

Overview

Experience the timeless charm of rural Scotland in James Hogg's "The Shepherd's Calendar, Volume I." This collection of short stories offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of shepherds and the pastoral beauty of their world. Hogg, a shepherd himself, brings an unparalleled authenticity to these tales, depicting the challenges and joys of rural life with remarkable clarity.

Immerse yourself in a world far removed from the modern bustle, where the rhythm of the seasons dictates daily life and the bonds between people are strong. These are stories of resilience, resourcefulness, and the enduring human spirit, set against the backdrop of the stunning Scottish landscape. "The Shepherd's Calendar" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates classic literature and the enduring power of stories rooted in the land. Rediscover these carefully preserved tales, showcasing a way of life that continues to resonate with readers today.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781023381901
Publisher:	Anson Street Press
Publication date:	03/29/2025
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

Douglas Mack is Formerly Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Stirling

Editorial Reviews

An important and addictively readable addition to the Scottish canon.

Christopher Harvie

The stories are about storms, sheep, lairds, about farmers with designs on their servant girls, as in one of the most memorable, 'Tibby Hyslop’s Dream', where a pious, winsome lass, prophesied over by a second-sighted, 'unco parabolical' great-aunt, copes with such designs - and the farmer in this case comes to one of Hogg’s suicidal ends.

Karl Miller

The reader is not being treated to a quaint display of an outmoded lifestyle, but privileged with glimpses of a community possessed of special knowledge and internal laws. Hogg’s shepherds are far removed from those of Virgil or Spenser, while even Wordsworth’s Michael seems remote from the narrator who can describe the destruction of ‘12 scores of excellent ewes’ with such calmness and compassion: ‘when the snow went away they were discovered all lying dead with their heads one way as if a flock of sheep had dropped dead going from the washing.

Fiona Stafford

These attractive editions of Hogg's work are set directly from the original texts, and in the case of the Perils of Woman and The Shepherd's Calendar, actually represent the first ever republications of the originals... these paperback reprints further aid the dissemination of Hogg’s best works, creating affordable and accessible editions. Texts previously available only to those with the golden keys of academia can now be bought and enjoyed by a wider readership... the infectiously enthusiastic introduction by Douglas Mack relates the very relevant publication history of this piece, which originally appeared as a series of articles in Blackwood's Magazine…[this] edition represents the first to be set directly from the magazine articles… Now that it has been brought together unbowdlerised for the first time in paperback, we can now see this collection's coherence as a single work, celebrating the vivacity of Hogg's home community.

From the Publisher

The stories are about storms, sheep, lairds, about farmers with designs on their servant girls, as in one of the most memorable, 'Tibby Hyslop's Dream', where a pious, winsome lass, prophesied over by a second-sighted, 'unco parabolical' great-aunt, copes with such designs - and the farmer in this case comes to one of Hogg's suicidal ends.

— Karl Miller

Times Literary Supplement

The reader is not being treated to a quaint display of an outmoded lifestyle, but privileged with glimpses of a community possessed of special knowledge and internal laws. Hogg's shepherds are far removed from those of Virgil or Spenser, while even Wordsworth's Michael seems remote from the narrator who can describe the destruction of '12 scores of excellent ewes' with such calmness and compassion: 'when the snow went away they were discovered all lying dead with their heads one way as if a flock of sheep had dropped dead going from the washing'

— Fiona Stafford

Review of English Studies

An important and addictively readable addition to the Scottish canon.

— Christopher Harvie

Notes and Queries