This image is the cover for the book Well of the Heads

Well of the Heads

Stories that were told around the peat fires of the Highland clans, including origin tales like “A Grand Archer” and “Son of the Carpenter.”

The origins of the Scottish clans go back over a thousand years, and for centuries these extended networks of families dominated life in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The warriors of the clan, fiercely loyal to each other and to their chief, were well known for their extraordinary courage and military skills.

Retold by one of Scotland’s most acclaimed storytellers, these stories illustrate the drama and the dynamism of a society which lived close to nature, had little in the way of material wealth but which boasted a remarkable treasure house of stories that were passed down over generations.

Stuart McHardy

Stuart Mchardy is a writer, storyteller and lecturer. His interest in Scotland's past has led him to re-rvaluate the role of the oral tradition in gaining a clearer picture of our history. He believes that while history is written by winners, story flourishes amongst history's survivors. He was Director of the Scots Language Resource Centre from 1993 to 1998 and is a founding member and past President of the Pictish Arts Society. An experienced broadcaster, Stuart Mchardy has long been interested in Scotland's musical traditions, playing music professionally since his teens. He lives in Edinburgh.

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