Thistle and Thyme by Sorche Nic Leodhas
"Thistle and Thyme" by Sorche Nic Leodhas is a collection of eighteen short stories that delves into the character traits and cultural essence of the Scottish people. The tales are primarily written in the third person and include line drawings, enhancing the storytelling experience. Many of these stories explore themes of love, sacrifice, and bravery, often featuring characters who undergo significant trials or face supernatural challenges in pursuit of their desires. For instance, a knight embarks on a perilous quest to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a Scottish king, while a beekeeper battles dark forces to free his enchanted bride.
The narratives present a rich tapestry of Scottish folklore, portraying the Scots as canny, loyal, and fearless, yet also capable of recklessness. The stories frequently incorporate elements of magic and the supernatural, highlighting the cultural significance of mysticism in Scottish tradition. Although some tales involve tragic events, they culminate in positive resolutions, reflecting a hopeful worldview. "Thistle and Thyme" serves as both an entertaining anthology and a thoughtful exploration of the values and beliefs that underpin Scottish society, making it particularly appealing to older readers with an interest in cultural heritage.
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Subject Terms
Thistle and Thyme by Sorche Nic Leodhas
First published: 1962; illustrated
Subjects: Love and romance, race and ethnicity, and the supernatural
Type of work: Short fiction
Recommended Ages: 15-18
Form and Content
In a collection of eighteen short stories, Leclaire G. Alger, writing under her Scottish name, Sorche Nic Leodhas, explores the character traits that define Scottish people. Written in the third person, some of the stories are illustrated with line drawings. Eight of the stories in this collection first appeared in Heather and Broom: Tales of the Scottish Highlands (1960), an earlier anthology by the same author.
One of the themes that is explored in the stories of Thistle and Thyme is that of love and the sacrifices or dangers that often come with it. When the daughter of the king of Scotland is kidnapped, the brave knight who promises to rescue her must undergo a series of trials before he can set her free. The beekeeper, who is one the central characters in one of the tales, must combat the powers of evil to liberate from an enchantment the young woman who will become his bride. The English lady who falls in love with a Scottish nobleman must pretend to be dead in order to escape her father, who has forbidden her to marry the man she loves. All the romances related in this work end happily, despite episodes of tragedy or loss. The lord of the Isles wins the love of Fionna, the seal king’s daughter, only to lose it because of his quick temper. After a lifetime of repentance, however, the lovers are reunited.
In each tale can be found a clue to the character of the Scots. When these pieces are joined like the parts of a puzzle, a fairly accurate picture of the Scottish people begins to emerge. They are indeed canny, but the Scots are also brave, loyal, fearless, self-sacrificing, and, at times, reckless. They regard the supernatural and the miraculous with awe, and most of the tales in this collection feature enchantment. Some characters, such as the red-haired lass who drove the ghosts from the home of the man she eventually married, live to tell of their encounters with that other dominion, while others, such as the old woman who angered St. Cuthbert, are punished. Likewise, the pirate captain who steals the consecrated bells from the abbey of the glen perishes with his entire crew. Scots often see the work of mystic beings in unexplained phenomena, and this trait is an important component of Scottish myths.
Critical Context
Several anthologies of traditional Scottish stories have been published, for various audiences. Some books, such as Barbara Ker Wilson’s Scottish Folk-Tales and Legends (1954), are intended for younger people. Sorche Nic Leodhas’ Thistle and Thyme, however, requires an understanding of the structure of the clan system and a familiarity with a number of basic Gaelic words and expressions, and younger readers may be discouraged by the necessity of mastering these elements before sampling the rich cultural heritage of Scotland. Therefore, this anthology is probably better suited to the needs of older readers, who will find these stories entertaining and an excellent introduction to the rich canon of Scottish literature.
These stories have been used for generations to entertain people of all ages, regardless of social rank, and some have even been set to music. Their most enduring quality, however, is their ability to impart the concepts, principles, and modes of behavior that provide the foundations of Scottish society.