Leading writer to explore Scotland's recorded memory
The poet, novelist, journalist and actor Angus Peter Campbell has been appointed to the third annual Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship, to be hosted by the National Library of Scotland.
The Fellowship was inaugurated by Creative Scotland in 2013 and provides a writer with time and support to develop their work, in partnership with a host organisation. It was established in memory of Dr Wallace who committed his entire professional life to helping writers and literature organisations in Scotland.
Mr Campbell, who writes in both Gaelic and English, will be invited to explore — and be inspired by — the ways in which the Library's collections reflect Scotland's past and present.
He said he was delighted to be appointed to the role. 'I loved and admired Dr Gavin Wallace as a generous man who encouraged writers because he knew that literature is – to quote Italo Calvino — "the promised land of language." I am particularly pleased that Gavin's family support this Fellowship and my thanks to Creative Scotland who fund it as an appropriate tribute to him. It's an honour to follow the two previous Fellows who have had this award — those wonderful writers Kirsty Logan and Jen Hadfield.
'I am especially delighted that the Fellowship is to be based at another national treasure of ours — the National Library of Scotland. I feel like a child about to be let loose in Charlie's Chocolate factory: the theme of the Fellowship is "the recorded memory of Scotland", and I look forward to the surprises that are in store for me as I delve into the manuscripts, tapes, books, maps, letters, audio and visual and digital recordings which the people of Scotland have left for all of us.
'My task will be to make creative use of these treasures during, and after, the year-long Fellowship. I will try and not be like Long John Silver who kept the pieces-of-eight to himself! Instead, we'll share them, through the marvels of digital technology and the greater marvel of writing.'
Mr Campbell was born on South Uist and is a politics and history graduate from the University of Edinburgh. He has published four collections of poetry and six Gaelic novels. The acclaimed Scottish Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean once said of him: 'I have no doubts that Angus Peter Campbell is one of the few really significant living poets in Scotland, writing in any language.'
National Librarian, Dr John Scally, said staff looked forward to introducing Mr Campbell to the collections and helping him to make best use of them. 'This is an exciting partnership that chimes very well with our commitment to promote the wide use of our collections and to make the Library a place of research and creativity.'
Kaite Welsh, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland, said: 'Angus Peter Campbell is one of Scotland's finest poets, and we are delighted that he will be taking up residence at the National Library as the 2015/16 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow. His poetry captures Scottish life in precise brushstrokes, and the fluidity of his prose in both English and Gaelic is a joy to read. What better writer to explore Scotland's recorded memory?'
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Sàr-sgrìobhaiche ag obair air cuimhne clàraichte na h-Alba
Tha am bàrd agus an nobhailiche Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul air an dreuchd a choisinn ghabhail mar Sgrìobhaiche ann an Caidreachais an Ollaimh Gabhan Wallace a bhios stèidhichte aig Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba son na bliadhna tha romhainn.
Seo an treasamh bliadhna dhen Caidreachais, a chaidh a chuir air bhonn ann an 2013 mar chuimhne air an Ollamh Wallace, a bha na fhear-taic sònraichte do litreachas an Alba thairis iomadach bliadhna. Tha an dreuchd a toirt cothrom is taic do dh’ùghdar ùine chuir seachad a’ sgrìobhadh.
Bidh Maighstir Caimbeul gu sònraichte coimhead air agus a’ rannsachadh mar a tha beatha ann an Alba air a bhith air a chlàradh anns na cruinneachaidhean iongantach aig an Leabharlann Nàiseanta. Thuirt e gun robh e air a dhòigh glan an cothrom seo fhaighinn. 'Bha mi gu math eòlach agus gu math dèidheil air Gabhan Wallace nach maireann, mar dhuine còir a bha daonnan a’ misneachadh litreachas agus luchd-sgrìobhaidh. Bha fhios aige, mar a thuirt Italo Calvino, gur e 'litreachas Tìr a’ Gheallaidh a thaobh cànan'.
'Tha mi taingeil do theaghlach Ghabhain agus do Alba Chruthachail a tha toirt an làn-taic dhan obair seo agus a tha ga mhaoineachadh. ‘S e urram mòr a th’ann gun deach seo a bhuileachadh orm, agus gu bheil mi leantainn nan sgrìobhadairean cliùiteach Kirsty Logan agus Jen Hatfield san dreuchd.
'Tha mi gu sònraichte toilichte gu bheil an obair an turas seo stèidhichte aig Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba – àite a tha na fhìor ulaidh chultarail ann an Alba. Tha mi faireachdainn mar leanabh air a leigeil ma sgaoil anns an Fhactaraidh Teòclaid aig Teàrlach! Tha mi coimhead air adhart gu mòr ri bhith leughadh agus ag èisteachd ‘s a’ coimhead nan làmh-sgrìobhaidhean, litrichean, mapaichean, agus na clàraidhean fiolm is didseatach is eile a tha taisgte anns an leabharlann iongantach seo.
'’S e an obair a bhios agam na stuthan sin a chleachdadh mar bhunait airson obair cruthachail a dhèanamh. Tha mi an làn dòchas sin a dhèanamh, seach a bhith mar Iain Fada an Airgid a chùm na buinn-a-h-ochd dha fhèin!'
Rugadh is thogadh Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul ann an Uibhist agus ghabh e Ceum le Urram ann an Eachdraidh is Poileataics o Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. Tha e air ceithir cruinneachaidhean de bhàrdachd agus sia nobhailean Gàidhlig fhoillseachadh. Bidh e cuideachd ag obair mar neach-naidheachd agus mar chleasaiche. Thuirt Somhairle MacGill-Eain mu dheidhinn: 'Chan eil teagamh agam nach e Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul aon de phrìomh sgrìobhadairean na h-Alba, ann an cànan sam bith.'
Thuirt an t-Oll Iain Scally o Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba gun robh an luchd-obrach a’ coimhead air adhart ri na cruinneachaidhean a shealltainn dha. '‘S e co-obrachadh uamhasach freagarrach a tha seo, a bheir cothrom dhuinn uile na cruinneachaidhean eachdraidheil againn a chleachdadh gu cruthachail.'
Thuirt Kaite Welsh, Oifigear Litreachais aig Alba Cruthachail '’S e fear de phrìomh-bhàird na h-Alba a th’ ann an Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul agus tha sinn ro-thoilichte gu bheil e gabhail na dreuchd seo aig an Leabharlann airson 2016. Tha a’ bhàrdachd aig fìor ealanta, agus an rosg siùbhlach aige – an dà chuid ann am Beurla agus ann an Gàidhlig – na thlachd a leughadh. Cò b’ fhèarr airson cuimhne clàraichte na h-Alba a shireadh?'
12 January 2016