The Buke of the Howlat
Written by James Robertson / Illustrated by Kate Leiper
£6.99
176 in stock
About the Book
Originally written in the 1440s by Richard Holland, a Scottish cleric who was chaplain to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, The Buke of the Howlat is one of the great poetic gems of fifteenth-century Scots. Believing himself to be ugly, a young owl (howlat) decides to speak to the most handsome bird of all, the peacock, and ask his help so that Nature can change him. But the peacock isn't sure this should be done - after all, Nature doesn't usually make mistakes - and summons a council of birds to make a decision. A huge feast takes place, and Nature herself appears and orders all the birds present to give the owlone of their feathers. But the result is not what they expect. The howlat's initial joy turns to unbearable arrogance at his new found beauty, and drastic action must be taken ...
The Authors
James Robertson
James Robertson is a writer of the highest quality. His second novel, Joseph Knight, won the two major Scottish literary prizes in 2003/4 - the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year. He has also published stories, poetry and anthologies. He was the Scottish Parliament's first writer in residence and lives in Angus.
Kate Leiper
Kate Leiper is an artist and illustrator who regularly exhibits and undertakes commissions throughout the UK. She is particularly drawn to mythical and animal subjects and has previously worked on Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales and An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures (both publisher by Floris). She also illustrated The Book of the Howlat (text by James Robertson), published by Birlinn in 2016Related
-
Hardback | Pub: 07 Sep 2015£25.00From the mid eighteenth century, many medical students from across the world made their way to Edinburgh, drawn by the reputation of the faculty and the quality and nature of its teaching. Chemistry, in particular, had star performers, notably...
-
E-Book | Pub: 01 Nov 2011£7.99Vibrating with endeavours for Britain’s effort against the might of Nazi Germany, Clydebank was – in hindsight – an obvious target for the attentions of the Luftwaffe. When, on the evening of 13 March 1941, the authorities first detected...
-
Paperback | Pub: 23 May 2019£9.99The Highland Clearances are a well-documented episode in Scotland’s past but they were not unique. The process began in the Scottish Lowlands nearly a century before, when tens of thousands of people – significantly more than were later exiled...
-
Paperback | Pub: 13 Mar 2008£8.99
From the ages of 5 to 15, Jess Smith lived with her parents, sisters and a mongrel dog in an old, blue Bedford bus. They travelled the length and breadth of Scotland, and much of England too, stopping here and there until they were moved on by the...
