Overview

Story Harvest - a bountiful harvest of traditional oral folk tales from Scotland and the world David Campbell began life in Edinburgh, spending his youth in Scotland's storied Northeast. Here he developed the athletic and academic skills which would one day lead him all over the world as an acclaimed storyteller. Throughout his long life, David has been called to word-smithing in many forms: as teacher, poet, BBC broadcaster, writer and acclaimed storyteller. His early talents in athletics are perhaps not surprising, as David Campbell is a cousin once-removed from the famous Scottish Olympic sprinter and Christian missionary Eric Liddell, whose story David shares in this collection from the viewpoint of family. Friendships with the master storyteller and Scottish Traveller Duncan Williamson, and many other vibrant tellers from widely-varied oral traditions, have inspired David's own warm and naturally engaging storytelling style, which translates beautifully in this collection of written tales. Along with poetically-rendered folk tales, historical Scottish lore, poetry and traditional oral stories captured in Story Harvest, David generously shares his professional storytelling tips for those of his readers who might like to try a little storytelling of their own. David has chosen a selection of his favourite stories for Story Harvest: whimsical, humorous, tragic and beautiful tales that deserve to be remembered and told again and again. When not travelling about with his magic bag of stories, David Campbell makes his home in the grand Scottish city where he began life - Edinburgh, Scotland. You can often find David holding forth, sharing advice and making folk laugh with his ribald jokes at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, where he is a regular and much-loved storyteller and mentor.

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9781915075031

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No one has done more for the art of storytelling than David Campbell. For David, stories well told are spoken poetry, and he has devoted decades to doing just that, supremely well. However, the art of storytelling is much more than technique. Telling a story, according to Duncan Williamson, David's bosom friend and fellow storyteller, is passing on a gift to cherish. David Campbell's concern has always been to render that gift unique, generous and precious. This gifting is part and parcel of David's wider generosity of spirit. For him love and friendship are not quantities to be allocated but qualities to be multiplied in the sharing. That is why, despite appearances in numerous festivals at home and abroad, storytelling ceilidh has always been the hearth of David Campbell's art - with all comers welcomed and affirmed. The Harvest gathered in this book is rich in stories heard and shared. Moreover, David's own Edinburgh home has been an unfailing heart of hospitality and storytelling hand-in-hand. There should be an everlasting plaque at the stair entry: HERE BE STORIES-ENTER WITHIN. It was Stanley Robertson, another with Duncan Williamson of the Scottish Traveller Tradition bearers, who used to say 'a story should be told eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart'. That points to a deeper inward dimension of storytelling. Within David's genial persona, is a loyal friend, a listening ear, and a readiness to support people through rough times. He espouses the steadfast human values of compassion, respect and dignity; and acts on them quietly. Around that core humanity, and sometimes personal struggles, David weaves a tapestry of fun and humour - a force field of grace and wit - by which he is often remembered. A phone call from David always includes at least one joke, usually unrepeatable. He sometimes threatens a collected edition of his jokes, but publishers beware! On a few occasions David has experienced knockback against his elf of mischief, but no harm is ever intended, and he is the first to laugh at a joke against himself. On one occasion he severely instructed a packed house at the Scottish Storytelling Centre to switch off all mobile phones before he would begin. Ten minutes later, in a full on dramatic pause, a mobile went off on full volume. David glared, audience members looked round anxiously, till it became apparent that the call tone was coming from David's own sporran.... David Campbell has always been ready to share his repertoire of stories with others, eye to eye, and in print. This Story Harvest contains some of his favourite and most performed tales. It is beautifully produced by people who love and understand storytelling. Please read, tell and enjoy. Thank you, David, from your wide community of friends, and from all the new friends this book will gain. Let the ceremony of delight continue. This is a harvest that never stops giving, and never wears out. Donald Smith Director, Scottish International Storytelling Festival

Author Information

David Campbell is a native of Edinburgh who spent his youth in Scotland's storied Northeast. Throughout his long life, David has been called to word-smithing in many forms: as teacher, poet, BBC broadcaster, writer and acclaimed storyteller. Friendships with master Traveller storyteller Duncan Williamson and many other vibrant tellers of widely-varied traditions have inspired David's own warm and naturally engaging storytelling style. When not travelling with his stories, David Campbell makes his home in Edinburgh, where he is a regular and much-loved guest storyteller at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. As well as being a great, long-time friend of Edinburgh storyteller David Campbell, Donald Smith is also an accomplished storyteller of Irish and Scots folk tales. He works to recover oral tales from both literary and local sources. Donald is a founding member of the Scottish Storytelling Forum and Edinburgh's Guid Crack Club. He acts as Chief Executive of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) and Director of the annual Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

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