The Unspeakable Scot

Thomas William Hodgson CroslandProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 208K words
Chapters: 21

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Unspeakable Scot by T. W. H. CroslandAuthor: Crosland, T. W. H. (Thomas William Hodgson), 1865-1924,Language: English, Class: DA: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Great Britain, Ireland, Central Europe, Release Date: Dec 18, 2017

Editor's review

This book is a collection of essays published in the early twentieth century by the British writer Crosland, built around exaggerated mockery of stereotypes and national character attributed to the Scots. The author writes with biting wit and constant flashes of irony and hyperbole for comic effect, making the book representative of the tradition of British humor. As a public-domain ebook, its more important value is documentary: readers can observe early British internal ethnic attitudes and popular writing fashions from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, and understand how popular prejudices such as "the stingy Scot" were magnified and parodied in text. Note its historical limitations: its group generalizations are clearly biased and offensive and should not be taken as serious sociology or study of national character. Suited to readers interested in British satirical literature, the history of ethnic stereotypes, and public-domain documents; read it with a critical eye, as a historical-cultural sample rather than a source of opinion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in British satirical essays and the tradition of British humor who wish to broaden their reading.
Students of literature and history researching ethnic stereotypes and early British internal ethnic attitudes.
Students of bibliography and publishing history who need samples of late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century popular texts.
Mature readers comfortable with irony and accustomed to reading old works critically.

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking serious, objective discussion of Scottish history and society.
Readers sensitive to ethnic mockery and stereotyped portrayals who may find it uncomfortable.
Learners seeking systematic theoretical frameworks or academic research methods.

Reading tips

Read the preface and table of contents first to grasp the satirical tone, then read essay by essay, avoiding mistaking mockery for conclusions.
After each chapter, briefly note the author's techniques of exaggeration and irony as material for stylistic analysis.
Read alongside a general history of Scotland or a study of national attitudes to form a critical reference.
For casual reading, dip into short chapters as you like; there is no need to read the whole book.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a serious discussion of the Scots?

No. It is a satirical essay collection in which the author deliberately magnifies popular prejudices to create irony; it is not rigorous study of national character. Read it as a literary and historical text, not a factual account, and distinguish the author's exaggeration from actual social conditions.

Are the views biased? Will it be uncomfortable to read?

It does contain clear period biases and group generalizations, some of which would be considered offensive by today's standards. Whether it is uncomfortable varies by reader. Read with critical awareness, as a sample for observing old attitudes, rather than accepting its judgments.

What background knowledge is needed to understand it?

Familiarity with the social context of Britain from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, Anglo-Scottish relations, and the tradition of British irony will help. Without such background, read a brief relevant chapter of British history first, then approach the text, so as to better distinguish what is jest from what contemporaries actually believed.

This is a public-domain ebook; how reliable is the edition?

Released by Project Gutenberg, this is a public-domain electronic text, usually basically proofread but possibly containing minor typographical differences. Read primarily for content; for research citation, check other editions or original publication information and note the source of the electronic text.

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About the author

Thomas William Hodgson Crosland Author · British · 1865–1924

Thomas William Hodgson Crosland (1865–1924) was a British writer, poet and journalist, born in Leeds. He wrote reviews and essays for London periodicals such as The Outlook and The Academy, in a witty and often satirical style. His works cover a wide range of subjects: light essays and a children's alphabet book, as in The Old Man's Bag and Little People: An Alphabet, as well as satires on national character such as The Egregious English, The Unspeakable Scot, The Wild Irishman and The Abounding American; he also published Outlook Odes and The Motor Car Dumpy Book. Eight of his works are held in this collection, usually classified under inspirational and personal growth. Public information on his early education and professional career is limited. He was on close terms with Lord Alfred Douglas, a friend of Oscar Wilde.