The Sair Road (Scots) by William Hershaw - Bookswagon
Home > Literature & literary studies > Poetry > Poetry anthologies (various poets) > The Sair Road (Scots)
The Sair Road (Scots)

The Sair Road (Scots)


     0     
5
4
3
2
1



International Edition


About the Book

The Sair Road written by William Hershaw and illustrated by Les McConnell is a poem sequence written in Scots based on the Stations of the Cross and set in Fife during the coal mining strikes of the twentieth century. It is being published by Grace Note Publications in 2018 to co-incide with the exhibition Hewers of Coal and Verse at the Lochgelly Centre which will celebrate the life and work of the Cardenden dramatist and playwright Joe Corrie, (1894 -1968) as well as the lesser known miner poets Peter "Pindar" Leslie, (1835 - 1905) and Robert McLeod, (1876 - 1958). Les McConnell's drawings of the Stations of the Cross will form part of the exhibition which runs from 4th of May until the 8th of August, 2018 at the Lochgelly Centre, Fife

Blessit are thaim wi a drouth for richt

In The Sair Road by William Hershaw pays tribute to miners and their communities, setting their tragedies and resilience in the context of the last days of Christ. The structure of the Stations of the Cross (plus a song and some fine Beatitudes by way of conclusion) works well. And there's a helpful introduction, setting out his purpose.
His rich, authentic Scots is well-suited to express this drouth for richt. That he can find humour as well as pathos as the story relentlessly unfolds, is a measure of his skill.
Les McConnell's drawings are a potent addition to the words - transforming the biblical narrative to a 20th century Fife coal-mining landscape.
With their powerful words and images these two artists have revealed the dignity of a mining community.

King Coal was a bad old cuif:
Spine-snapper, baa-squeezer, jaw-drapper,
Knee-capper, airm-twister, dislocater, wife-slapper,
Bairn-beater, son-stealer, saul-pauchler, undertaker,
Doo-strangler, match-fixer,
Compensation-refuser, inquest-wrangler ...
... Despair-warseler, telegram-bringer,
(Amang other hings).
Review by Christine DeLuca

William Hershaw evokes the downfall - or rather, the planned and systematic destruction - of Scotland's mining industry in plain authentic Scots, using verse of which the measured and disciplined tread highlights, rather than veiling, the anger which the story arouses; and in an audacious but devastatingly effective move, presents the narrative as a re-enactment of the Biblical account of Christ's journey to the Cross. The Sair Road is a noble memorial to a proud but doomed part of Scottish social history; but it is also a triumphant affirmation, unexpected in modern literature, of faith in God and in the indomitable strength of human nature. The poems, together with Les McConnell's memorable illustrations, form one of the outstanding works of contemporary Scottish literature. Review by Derrick McClure


About the Author:

A note about the Author

William Hershaw is a poet, playwright, folk musician and Scots Language activist. His Stars Are The Aizles - Selected Poems In Scots 1976-2016 was published in 2017 by The Neepheid Press. He is the leader of The Bowhill Players, a musical and dramatic group who perform the works of Joe Corrie and other Fife based miner poets. Other works by the author published by Grace Note: Tammy Norrie (Novel) Postcairds Fae Woodwick Mill - Orkney Poems In Scots (Poetry). Plays: The Tempest in Scots; Michael - A Ballad Play; Jennie Lee's Homework Project.

A note about the Illustrator

Les McConnell received his art education at Edinburgh College of Art in the 1960s, a time of great social and cultural change In 1970 he was awarded a post graduate scholarship and travelled to study art in Holland. He participated in numerous exhibitions over the years, highlights being the Royal Scottish Academy, the Society of Scottish Artists and a one man show in Fife. The greatest highlight, however, is the present collaboration with Willie Hershaw. Translating his words in 'The Sair Road' into images has been an exciting challenge and a privilege.


Best Sellers



Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9781907676970
  • Publisher: Grace Note
  • Publisher Imprint: Grace Note
  • Height: 235 mm
  • No of Pages: 90
  • Spine Width: 5 mm
  • Width: 191 mm
  • ISBN-10: 190767697X
  • Publisher Date: 30 Dec 2017
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: N
  • Weight: 218 gr


Similar Products

Add Photo
Add Photo

Customer Reviews

REVIEWS      0     
Click Here To Be The First to Review this Product
The Sair Road (Scots)
Grace Note -
The Sair Road (Scots)
Writing guidlines
We want to publish your review, so please:
  • keep your review on the product. Review's that defame author's character will be rejected.
  • Keep your review focused on the product.
  • Avoid writing about customer service. contact us instead if you have issue requiring immediate attention.
  • Refrain from mentioning competitors or the specific price you paid for the product.
  • Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names.

The Sair Road (Scots)

Required fields are marked with *

Review Title*
Review
    Add Photo Add up to 6 photos
    Would you recommend this product to a friend?
    Tag this Book Read more
    Does your review contain spoilers?
    What type of reader best describes you?
    I agree to the terms & conditions
    You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.

    CUSTOMER RATINGS AND REVIEWS AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TERMS OF USE

    These Terms of Use govern your conduct associated with the Customer Ratings and Reviews and/or Questions and Answers service offered by Bookswagon (the "CRR Service").


    By submitting any content to Bookswagon, you guarantee that:
    • You are the sole author and owner of the intellectual property rights in the content;
    • All "moral rights" that you may have in such content have been voluntarily waived by you;
    • All content that you post is accurate;
    • You are at least 13 years old;
    • Use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
    You further agree that you may not submit any content:
    • That is known by you to be false, inaccurate or misleading;
    • That infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy;
    • That violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);
    • That is, or may reasonably be considered to be, defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation;
    • For which you were compensated or granted any consideration by any unapproved third party;
    • That includes any information that references other websites, addresses, email addresses, contact information or phone numbers;
    • That contains any computer viruses, worms or other potentially damaging computer programs or files.
    You agree to indemnify and hold Bookswagon (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.), harmless from all claims, demands, and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of a breach of your representations and warranties set forth above, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


    For any content that you submit, you grant Bookswagon a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell, transfer, and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Additionally,  Bookswagon may transfer or share any personal information that you submit with its third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc. in accordance with  Privacy Policy


    All content that you submit may be used at Bookswagon's sole discretion. Bookswagon reserves the right to change, condense, withhold publication, remove or delete any content on Bookswagon's website that Bookswagon deems, in its sole discretion, to violate the content guidelines or any other provision of these Terms of Use.  Bookswagon does not guarantee that you will have any recourse through Bookswagon to edit or delete any content you have submitted. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days. However, Bookswagon reserves the right to remove or to refuse to post any submission to the extent authorized by law. You acknowledge that you, not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third party service providers (including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.)and their respective directors, officers and employees.

    Accept

    New Arrivals



    Inspired by your browsing history


    Your review has been submitted!

    You've already reviewed this product!