Scotland’s Branches: Language, Literature and Culture across Time

There is something uncanny about Scotland’s capacity to rely on its past in order to build its future, while being well-grounded in the present. It was in Scotland that the first historical novels reinvented the past at the onset of the nineteenth century, and even at the turn of the twenty-first century worldwide audiences are captivated by a book and TV series, Outlander, which centres on a story of time travel initiated in Scotland. Nor does this capacity only apply to literature, as Scottish culture also features the same characteristics, and indeed Scotland’s linguistic history has developed both independently and in close connection with the variation and changes observed south of the border. In addition, Scotland’s role in a European context that is going to be affected by Brexit is likely to be viewed in light of at least two key factors: the country’s historical relationship with the Continent, which dates from before the Union of the Crowns; and its ruling party’s aim to regain independence so as to re-join the EU – an aim that also has its roots firmly planted in the past but which looks to the future. Starting from these observations, in this collection of essays we aim to draw attention to genres and texts that bear witness to the various ways in which Scottish literature, language and culture have constantly branched out into the future, while constantly acknowledging the significance of the past. Contributions focus on drama, translation, and historical discourse. There is something uncanny about Scotland’s capacity to rely on its past in order to build its future, while being well-grounded in the present. It was in Scotland that the first historical novels reinvented the past at the onset of the nineteenth century, and even at the turn of the twenty-first century worldwide audiences are captivated by a book and TV series, Outlander, which centres on a story of time travel initiated in Scotland. Nor does this capacity only apply to literature, as Scottish culture also features the same characteristics, and indeed Scotland’s linguistic history has developed both independently and in close connection with the variation and changes observed south of the border. In addition, Scotland’s role in a European context that is going to be affected by Brexit is likely to be viewed in light of at least two key factors: the country’s historical relationship with the Continent, which dates from before the Union of the Crowns; and its ruling party’s aim to regain independence so as to re-join the EU – an aim that also has its roots firmly planted in the past but which looks to the future. Starting from these observations, in this collection of essays we aim to draw attention to genres and texts that bear witness to the various ways in which Scottish literature, language and culture have constantly branched out into the future, while constantly acknowledging the significance of the past. Contributions focus on drama, translation, and historical discourse. There is something uncanny about Scotland’s capacity to rely on its past in order to build its future, while being well-grounded in the present. It was in Scotland that the first historical novels reinvented the past at the onset of the nineteenth century, and even at the turn of the twenty-first century worldwide audiences are captivated by a book and TV series, Outlander, which centres on a story of time travel initiated in Scotland. Nor does this capacity only apply to literature, as Scottish culture also features the same characteristics, and indeed Scotland’s linguistic history has developed both independently and in close connection with the variation and changes observed south of the border. In addition, Scotland’s role in a European context that is going to be affected by Brexit is likely to be viewed in light of at least two key factors: the country’s historical relationship with the Continent, which dates from before the Union of the Crowns; and its ruling party’s aim to regain independence so as to re-join the EU – an aim that also has its roots firmly planted in the past but which looks to the future. Starting from these observations, in this collection of essays we aim to draw attention to genres and texts that bear witness to the various ways in which Scottish literature, language and culture have constantly branched out into the future, while constantly acknowledging the significance of the past. Contributions focus on drama, translation, and historical discourse.