Sorche Nic Leodhas
Description
LeClaire Gowans Alger (May 20, 1898 – November 14, 1969) was an American author better known under her pseudonym Sorche Nic Leodhas, or simply Sorche Leodhas. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, she was a sickly child, eventually being homeschooled. Alger was a known librarian, working from 1915 to 1966, while the imaginary Sorche was a storyteller. She sought out traditional Scottish tales that had never been written down before. She won a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1962 and a Newbery Honor for Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland in 1963. Her book Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian, won the 1966 Caldecott Medal.
Books
Kellyburn Braes
Adaptation of a Scottish folk song about a man whose wife was so mean that not even the devil was willing to keep her. Includes notation of the melody.
Claymore and Kilt
Collection of Scottish tales. The subtitle is "Tales of Scottish Kings and Castles." Many of the stories are topics in Scottish folk songs as well.
By loch and by lin
Ten stories from old Scottish folk songs tell histories and local legends in the voice of the people Many Scottish ballads tell stories of adventure and danger, trickery and wit, valiant nobles and passionate romances. But to the natives of Scotland, the best ballads have often been those that speak of ordinary people playing the parts of heroes. Writers of ballads stretched their imaginations to bring life to tales that happened long ago, and the stories were passed down from generation to generation as oral retellings of local Scottish history and myth. By Loch and by Lin presents exciting tales such as those of the harper who tricked a king, the dove that became a prince at night, and the beautiful lass who was stolen from her true love. In stories from ancient folk songs, this collection weaves a colorful tapestry of Scottish lore.
Sea-Spell and Moor-Magic
Ten folk tales from the Scottish Hebrides, each from a different island. These are stories of the sea, populated by giants, waterbulls and fairy creatures.
Always room for one more
In this Scottish folk song, a generous family always has room for another person and invites in everyone who passes by
Ghosts go haunting
Contents: The Wicked House of Duncan Macbain • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Man Who Didn't Believe in Ghosts • shortstory by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Man Who Walked Widdershins Round the Kirk • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Tale the Crofter Told • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Wild Ride in the Tilt Cart • shortstory by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Man Who Helped Carry the Coffin • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Ghost That Didn't Want to Be a Ghost • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Lads Who Met the Highwayman • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas Explanation of Scottish Words • essay by Sorche Nic Leodhas How Tammas MaCivar MacMurdo MacLenan Met His Match • shortfiction by Sorche Nic Leodhas The Young Irish Lad from the Hiring Fair • shortstory by Sorche Nic Leodhas
The Laird of Cockpen
Illustrated version of an old Scottish song in which a proud lord decides to honor one of the neighborhood ladies with a proposal and is surprised to be rejected. Includes musical notation.
Thistle and thyme
A collection of ten Scottish legends and cottage tales.