Witchcraft & Second Sight in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland Tales and Traditions Collected Entirely from Oral Sources

Statements and beliefs are given exactly as they reached the author, nor do I think it would be possible to detect a single instance in which wider knowledge or prepossession of any kind has induced him to alter or distort a fact. This rigid conscientiousness will always secure for Mr. Campbell’s work the confidence and regard of true folklorists.... Campbell of Tiree takes his place by the side of Kirk, and of Walter Gregor of Pitsligo, among those recorders of folk-lore to whom the student can always turn with increased confidence and admiration.—MR. ALFRED NUTT in FOLKLORE.

Students of tradition will find much to interest them in this new collection of Highland folk-lore, for although a good deal of the information is similar to that contained in previous works of the kind, yet many details are new, and even those which are already familiar have this great recommendation—that they were obtained at first-hand from the peasantry, and not from other books.—_RELIQUARY._

On the whole their can be few richer fields of ancient folk-belief, especially of the gloomier and sterner sort, than that which was so successfully cultivated by the lamented author of this book.—_ATHENÆUM._

Mr. Campbell has escaped most of the difficulties by which his predecessors were beset. A very interesting series of stories has been collected, and the volume exercises much fascination over the reader. On the subjects such as divination, spells, the devil, etc., much interesting information is given. While scientifically thorough in treatment, the book is indeed admirably suited for general perusal.—_NOTES AND QUERIES._

The tales are plucked directly from their native soil in the popular memory; and while few of them are absolute rarities, there is hardly anyone that does not in some way illustrate the infinite variety and the vivid imaginative colouring, as well as the wealth of Highland superstitions.—_SCOTSMAN._

This volume is posthumous, and we cannot but regret that the author was not spared to see it safely launched. It is a capital book written in a thoroughly sane and sober spirit. In this it differs from most books that deal with the manners, customs, and usages of the Gaels of Scotland, for in them the wildest theories, based mainly on fanciful ideas, are treated as facts and enunciated as truths. In gathering his material the late Mr. Campbell relied solely on oral communications made to himself so that in every case of doubt he could interrogate his informant.—_SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE._

Altogether the book is a notable and valuable addition to the literature of British folk-lore not unworthy to take its place alongside Mr. J. F. Campbell’s classic “Popular Tales of the West Highlands.”—_GLASGOW HERALD._

The more collections of this sort we get the better will be the verdict of all who read this interesting book; and those who look at the question more from the scientific point of view will echo the wish.—_MAN._

The fairies and tales about them, gathered by himself or by correspondents in all parts of the Highlands and Isles, take up the half of the book before us, the remarkable feature of which is that the whole of its contents has been taken down from oral sources. There are many variants and many common stories which are variously localised. Printed accounts of the fairies are religiously ignored.—_THE NORTHERN CHRONICLE._

Those who are interested in our west Highlands and Islands—and who is not?—will find Mr. Campbell’s book a perfect mine of strange, weird stories and legends, the latter entirely characteristic of the people, the former dealing with magic, divination, and the superstitions of fairyland. Indeed it takes a place by itself, and a very important place, in our folk-lore literature.—_THE BAILIE._

The tales are very diversified. They relate to the “fairies” and the superstitions regarding them. A chapter is devoted to augury, another to premonitions and divination, to dreams and prophecies, to imprecations, spells, and the black art. In short we have a very varied and manifold collection of Highland beliefs told with great freshness and vividness.—_OBAN TIMES._