Thistle Diaries: Flur Na H-Alba

Thistle Diaries - Fl r na h-Alba (Flower Of Scotland) by Ronald C. McGilvray, in his sophomore collection of poetry, takes a stroll through the Glens and over the Bens of his Scottish heritage with a little history tossed in. And, as in his first effort, there are snapshots of individuals, rough-hewn by their rugged environment. And of course he includes a generous dose of drama and a degree of whimsy. The volume, written in English, is also translated into Scottish Gaelic by Niall Gordan."The Thistle Diaspora" speaks out against the wide-spread "Clearance" of the Scottish population. Clan structures were broken up and as a result, the Scots went in search of a better life and to preserve their ancient culture all over the globe. McGilvray's poetry has been called both thought provoking and poignant. And it has been said that it speaks to the marrow in the bones and the places in the heart where Scots long to reside. The eternal DNA of the Clans.This volume includes many beautiful photos by McGilvray, Donna Nunns, Graeme Cumming and Jeremy Freshwater of, you guessed it, thistles from their gardens and backyards in the US and Scotland.