Longlisted for the 2025 Highland Book Prize
Tha Ruaraidh MacThòmais (1921–2012) aithnichte mar bhàrd, ollamh, agus iomairtiche as leth na Gàidhlig – ach a bharrachd air sin, b’ e sgrìobhadair rosg ealanta agus neach-naidheachd geur a bh’ ann. Anns an leabhar seo, gheibhear, airson a’ chiad turas, a h-uile sgeulachd ghoirid a dh’fhoillsich MacThòmais agus a chaidh lorg gu ruige seo, còmhla ri taghadh de sgrìobhaidhean eile a nochd ann an Gairm, an ràitheachan a chuir MacThòmais air bhonn còmhla ri Fionnlagh Iain MacDhòmhnaill: lèirmheasan air leabhraichean a ghlac aire MhicThòmais, aithisgean-siubhail à Canada agus às na dùthchannan Lochlannach, colbhan-beachd, agus aistean air Gàidhlig agus poilitigs. Anns na pìosan seo, chithear lèirsinn fharsaing, spèis do charaidean agus do sgrìobhadairean eile, faireachdainnean domhainn, àbhachdas, agus beachdan MhicThòmais air an toirt am follais ann an dòigh ùr is brìoghmhor.
Ruaridh MacThòmais (1921–2012) is known as a poet, professor, and Gaelic activist – but he was also a prolific prose writer and a sharp journalist. An Staran brings together, for the first time, every short story Thomson has published to date, along with a selection of other writings that appeared in Gairm, the quarterly that Thomson founded with Finlay Iain MacDonald: reviews of books that caught Thomson’s attention, travel reports from Canada and the Scandinavian countries, opinion columns, and essays on Gaelic and politics. In these pieces, Thomson’s broad vision, respect for friends and other writers, deep emotions, humor, and opinions are revealed in a new and meaningful way.
The compiler and editor of the collection, Dr Petra Johana Poncarová, is an academic writer and researcher whose focus is on Scottish Literature and Culture, including modern writing in Gaelic. She has written extensively about Thomson.