Question: Bruach & Lillian Beckwith
Gary Wirsching
I've always enjoyed Lillian Beckwith's writing, and I am particularly
fond of her stories of her life in the Hebrides (and as I remember,
the community of Bruach--I hope I've spelled that correctly).
Because of present circumstances, I no longer am in possession
of any of her books, and my memory of the locations and characters
from these works has dimmed somewhat. My question is: Is this
place (Bruach) in her books REAL? I can't find it on any map.
The answer to this question leads to the next: Were her writings
based upon her own adventures in the Hebrides--or purely fictional?
Is Ms. Beckwith still alive?
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar affinity for her work
who may be able to help me with my inquiry.
Thanks
Gary Wirsching
Lesley Robertson
Gary Wirsching <g...@atlanta-link.com> wrote in message
news:01bec367$679023e0$6c87b7d1@atlanta...
> Hello:
>
> I've always enjoyed Lillian Beckwith's writing, and I am particularly
> fond of her stories of her life in the Hebrides (and as I remember,
> the community of Bruach--I hope I've spelled that correctly).
>
> Because of present circumstances, I no longer am in possession
> of any of her books, and my memory of the locations and characters
> from these works has dimmed somewhat. My question is: Is this
> place (Bruach) in her books REAL? I can't find it on any map.
> The answer to this question leads to the next: Were her writings
> based upon her own adventures in the Hebrides--or purely fictional?
> Is Ms. Beckwith still alive?
>
unpopular at one time - many people felt that she was taking the mickey. How
true they are is open to speculation - their location in time seems to be
around the 50's or so, judging from internal evidence - if she was really
already getting towards retirement age then, she'll be pretty long in the
tooth by now.
I've not seen anything in the press about her demise - and books still
appear (although not on Bruach), so she might still be around.
Lesley Robertson
Alexander Maclennan
>
> I've always enjoyed Lillian Beckwith's writing, and I am particularly
> fond of her stories of her life in the Hebrides (and as I remember, the
> community of Bruach--I hope I've spelled that correctly).
Many people enjoyed the Beckwith books though many in the Islands were
rather offended by them. Presumably Bruach was imaginary. Bruach means
bank and there are Bruachs all over the place. The Och Och school of
Highland writing is not well received locally.
--
Alexander MacLennan sand...@sandymac.demon.co.uk
B
>"Gary Wirsching" <g...@atlanta-link.com> wrote:
>Alexander MacLennan sand...@sandymac.demon.co.uk
I too would love to know if Ms Beckwith is around. I have always wanted to
write to her. Despite what might be said about the Skye islanders degree of
upopularity with the author, I think she wrote wonderfully and certainly
made me adore the Hebrides. Naive as that might be, I think she wrote with
a true love of whatever location she was in and any negative sentiments are
typical of people who take offence at the least wee thing.
People must realise that it takes a genuis to write in a style and about a
place that is a new marriage. Lillian Beckwith wrote wonderful stories,
that even if they did verge on the irreverant, so what? They were
wonderfully written and created memorable characters, similar to the way
Dickens did. Yes some of them might have been overblown, but isn't that the
essence of characterisation - similarly, to characterise a village or
location requires the same degree of enlargement.
I wish when people were talking about this writer they concentrated on the
innocent charm and wondeful humour of her stories and left the carpings of
slighted individuals to rest. After all, her writings will last whilst their
bleatings fade.
I challenge anyone with any common sense to assert that Ms Beckwith did more
harm than good. She certainly made a difference with her writings. And
created a world that whilst it may never have truly existed, certainly does
in the hearts of her most ardent readers.
And if this affection felt by her readers migrates from the pages to the
place, wheresoever they feel that place to be, then I feel no-one can blame
her for taking some liberties for the sake of enjoyable narrative.
Lets face it, TV and film writers these days do a lot worse, with a lot less
style and certainly without a love of the subject they distort.
Please leave the memory of her characters, and the fictitious Bruach alone,
in many ways it is the escapist world that many of us desire without truly
believing it has to exist.
Bruce
PS I come from a farming/rural community in the West of Scotland and would
have been delighted if Bruach had been based on my area.
John Mullen
"B" <B...@guestdirect.co.uk> wrote:
> Alexander Maclennan wrote in message ...
> >"Gary Wirsching" <g...@atlanta-link.com> wrote:
>
> >> I've always enjoyed Lillian Beckwith's writing, and I am
particularly
> >> fond of her stories of her life in the Hebrides (and as I remember,
the
> >> community of Bruach--I hope I've spelled that correctly).
> >
> >Many people enjoyed the Beckwith books though many in the Islands
were
> >rather offended by them. Presumably Bruach was imaginary. Bruach
means
> >bank and there are Bruachs all over the place. The Och Och school of
> >Highland writing is not well received locally.
>
> >Alexander MacLennan sand...@sandymac.demon.co.uk
Bruach may have been based on Elgol in Skye, according to a
correspondent... anyone got any other ideas?
--
"Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal
with it."
http://members.xoom.com/jcmullen99/index.htm
John
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
hillt...@gmail.com
> Hello:
> I've always enjoyed Lillian Beckwith's writing, and I am particularly
> fond of her stories of her life in the Hebrides (and as I remember,
> the community of Bruach--I hope I've spelled that correctly).
>
> of any of her books, and my memory of the locations and characters
> from these works has dimmed somewhat. My question is: Is this
> place (Bruach) in her books REAL? I can't find it on any map.
> The answer to this question leads to the next: Were her writings
> based upon her own adventures in the Hebrides--or purely fictional?
> Is Ms. Beckwith still alive?
>
> who may be able to help me with my inquiry.
>
> Thanks
> Gary Wirsching
>
> g...@atlanta-link.com
Brian
The Phantom Piper
>
> Bruach is Elgol on Skye, and is where LB had a house for a period.
>
> Brian
that is more than 19 Years Old!
Sadly, you are not eligible for the 2018 Necro Award,
as there have been other posts earlier this year in
this dead forum which are even more ludicrously out
of date.
However, the good news is that you are very much
still in the running for a Numpty! (The Numpties
are given out in large batches every year due to
the sheer number of eligible numpties in the world;
so don't lose hope of receiving your [much deserved]
recognition for achievement in this category.)
Applauding,
The Phantom Piper
Adam Whyte-Settlar
AWS