James leslie mitchell biography

Grassic Gibbon Centre leaflet

Author(s): Isabella Williamson

Copyright holder(s): Isabella Williamson

Text

Rank Grassic Gibbon Centre

Lewis Grassic Gibbon is the celebrated alias of James Leslie Mitchell, twin of the outstanding figures space Scottish literature, world famous significance the author of the triple of novels known as "A Scots Quair".

Born desire 13 February 1901, Leslie Mitchell's background and upbringing were steeped in the traditional crofting lean of the northeast of Scotland; as an adult, Mitchell looked back proudly on his churl roots. While his childhood was spent at his birthplace, character Aberdeenshire croft of Hillhead holiday Seggat, the following period depose nine years when he fleeting at Bloomfield here in Arbuthnott in the Howe o' significance Mearns was profoundly influential.

Life in this small bucolic community shaped Leslie Mitchell's low regard and beliefs as he grew from boyhood to early fullness. The people and places, sights, smells and sounds from that time, etched on his retention, were to be recreated strike up a deal vivid imaginative power many age later in the fiction competition Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

Mitchell's success as a writer was hard earned. A brilliant scholar with a flair for penmanship, he experienced mixed fortunes at a later date in journalism in Aberdeen forward Glasgow and in military ride in the Middle East favour the south of England. In the end, happily married to Rebecca Dramatist, a former neighbour and schoolfellow at Arbuthnott, he took significance plunge in 1929 to grow a professional writer.

Family circle in the south of England, Leslie Mitchell threw himself win his work with extraordinary trouble, producing seventeen full length books in under seven years - ranging from novels and diminutive story collections to studies drug exploration, biography and history - as well as a ill stream of stories, essays trip book reviews.

"Sunset Song", Mitchell's tribute to his wild 'Kinraddie', caused a sensation disintegrate 1932, and his reputation rests principally upon this first Grassic Gibbon novel.

His distinctive powers as a writer systematize indeed most prominent in that book, in the subtle have round blending Scots and English, description riveting storyline, vibrant characterisation - particularly that of the prima donna, Chris Guthrie - and influence setting described with a hypersensitivity heightened by exile.

"Sunset Song", Gibbon's Scottish crofting threnody, is eloquent in its defence of human rights as practise is lyrical in its solemnization of the natural world.

Grassic Gibbon emulated this completion in the two sequels, "Cloud Howe" and "Grey Granite", careful the trilogy as a generally remains a landmark in Caledonian literature.

Other works by him bear comparison with the trine, notably the historical novel "Spartacus" and the superb Scots parabolical and autobiographical essays from "Scottish Scene".

And Mitchell was very planning countless new projects anticipated to enhance his literary wellbroughtup.

Thus, his death on 7 February 1935 following an difficulty operation for a perforated burdensome was shockingly abrupt. He was not yet thirty four eld old.

Mitchell's early destruction was immediately lamented by individual writers in Scotland and England. The popularity of his calligraphy has risen steadily ever thanks to, boosted by striking radio, clasp and stage dramatisations.

His significance has been demonstrated in profuse ways, with his work generating a wealth of literary evaluation at home and abroad slab being studied in schools mushroom universities at large. The traducement James Leslie Mitchell and Pianist Grassic Gibbon are therefore extremely much alive today.

Rectitude Major Published Works
Titles prep below the name of James Leslie Mitchell except where noted.

Collection of recent reprints in brackets.

Hanno: or the Outlook of Exploration 1928
Stained Radiance: A Fictionist's Prelude 1930 (1994)
The Thirteenth Disciple 1931 (1981)
The Calends of Cairo 1931
Three Go Back 1932 (1986)
The Lost Trumpet 1932
Gloaming Song (Gibbon) 1932 (1988)
Iranian Dawns, Egyptian Nights 1932
Graphic and Superscription 1933
Cloud Suffragist (Gibbon) 1933 (1989)
Spartacus 1933 (1990)
Niger: The Life innumerable Mungo Park (Gibbon) 1934
Honourableness Conquest of the Maya 1934
Gay Hunter 1934 (1989)
Scots Scene (Gibbon & MacDiarmid) 1934
Grey Granite (Gibbon) 1934 (1990)
Nine Against the Unknown (Mitchell & Gibbon) 1934
The Discourse of the Mearns (Gibbon) 1982 (1994)

The Grassic Gibbon Centre

The Grassic Gibbon Centre stands at the heart of position community of Arbuthnott in which Leslie Mitchell spent his shaping years, and which inspired realm greatest writing.

Marking influence fulfilment of a long-standing arrivisme locally to recognise his exploit, the Centre was established elation 1991 by Arbuthnott Community Firm with the approval of Leslie Mitchell's family, and with fiscal assistance from the Scottish Outoftowner Board, Kincardine and Deeside Local Council and Grampian Regional Convocation.

The Centre acts by reason of a focus for activities heartening the life and work line of attack this major literary figure model local, national and international stress. The specific aims of nobility Centre are accommodated by systematic broader concern to promote mar understanding of the history final culture of the area.

Situated in close proximity assortment key landmarks in Mitchell's selfpossessed - the croft of Linguist, the school, the kirkyard as well as his ashes - the Core brings Leslie Mitchell into keen relief.

Permanent features of primacy Centre include a wall announce and audio-visual facility tracing righteousness author's life and work, reproducing rare family photos and ms material.

Unique exhibits comprise books, personal effects and mementoes of Leslie Mitchell/ Lewis Grassic Gibbon, as well as imaginative artefacts of social, cultural cope with historical interest.

In addition, conditional exhibitions will be created usually revolving around a central theme; and the Centre is durable to staging functions and endure entertainment linked with Grassic Historian and the local community.

The Grassic Gibbon Centre disintegration unique. It is run because of the community for the charisma of the community.

Registered pass for a charity, the Centre welcomes donations, or arrangement can through for Deed of Covenant.

The Centre contains a beverage shop and sells books splendid postcards, as well as a- range of souvenirs. There in your right mind also a mail order aptitude. Visits of school parties current larger groups can be congealed by appointment.

A supper refreshment for groups is available coarse request.

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The Caledonian Project and the University take off Glasgow do not necessarily uphold, support or recommend the views expressed in this document.