The Visionary Writings of Fiona MacLeod

I am indebted to RJ Stewart for making me aware of the writings of Fiona MacLeod, a Celtic visionary and romantic of the late nineteenth century. Readers of her era were enchanted by the marvelous weaving of folklore, myth, vision, and personal observation she brought forth in her prose and poetry.

It caused some consternation in that time when it was revealed that the lovely, mysterious Fiona MacLeod was in fact William Sharp. This seems to have been more than a literary affectation or a trick to sell books, but a genuine effort on William Sharp's part to express an inner female nature. Fiona's literary stock tumbled quite a bit after this discovery, though her work continued to enjoy some success thereafter, most notably with the long running opera The Immortal Hour based on Fiona's poetry, which ran in England in the 1920's and 1930's.

Here I have made available on the web the contents of By Sundown Shores, a compilation published in 1902 by Thomas B. Mosher of Portland Maine. In addition to material from Fiona's earlier works, there is some material that is unique to this volume. This is a rare book, only 425 having been printed.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

By Sundown Shores

The Lynne of Dreams

The Wind, Silence, and Love

Barabal

Sheumas

The Sea-Madness

Earth Fire and Water



Links to other works by Fiona MacLeod:

Dalriada Celtic Heritage Trust: Folk Tales - Honey of the Wild Bees
Dalriada Celtic Heritage Trust: Bride - Brighid
Sundown Shores - Contains many more transcriptions of Fiona's Work
Celtic Siren: The Immortal Woman
GAELIC CELTIC CULTURE 6

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