The Broach, the Yarn, and the Unicorn
To view or purchase The Broach, The Yarn and the Unicorn click on the book cover image to the left.
If you are USA then click here
Through its layers of time and ages, generation through generation, Stirling Castle's tales unfold in this book in prose and in verse from the voices of those who molded or witnessed its history and the keys to unlocking or linking the layers, set out in rhyming couplets.
From Arthur of the Britons to ‘Little Arthur’, James VI and I, we see the Rock as a royal seat and fortress. Beyond this, we see it as a garrison or barracks, conspicuous in a newer age of martial exploits allied with the ‘auld enemy’, in the field of battle in the distant parts of the earth. And now in its restoration and upgrading, a place of hospitality and heritage portrayed in pageant for the visitor.
Throughout this journey we trace the castle’s ancient yet timeless icons and symbols, steadfast in relevance and meaning to all generations, and into a brave new
future.
The traditional tales, verses and songs within this book are contained or encased within an original poem by the authro that is 2,000 lines long. In sections interspersed between each contribution, it is constructed in rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter or the ‘hero’ metre. The language of this piece is primarily English, while the contributions are in the language or dialect of the writers or contributors, which include medieval Scots, vernacular Scots, Gaelic of both Ireland and Scotland, French and Latin, mostly with translations.
Symbolically central to this work is the Unicorn Hunt tapestry series, which medieval enigma signifies not only the messianic message but also the badge of the Royal House of Stewart, or Stuart who ruled from the castle for two and a half centuries. Some of the Unicorn Hunt tapestries can be seen on display in the palace whilst others are in the remaking by the weavers of the castle.
Other symbols include the Lion Rampant, designed by the castle’s very own King William the Lion, who also gave us the Auld Alliance, the economic and social alliance with France and Norway. Wild boars are also conspicuous on the facades as is the Guid Man o’ Ballengeich or King James V.
The last Stuart monarch to reign from the castle was the disciple monarch James VI, who was to prophetically become James I of England and the king of Britain. He commissioned the translation of the now still revered and much used King James Bible of which 2011 is the 400th anniversary of its publishing. Apart from being the best translation ever in English it became the book that taught the world English and the only book ever to sell over one billion copies!
The post monarchic military history of the castle was central to training Highland regiments of martial fame and the men who freed us from possible Nazi oppression. The silver centre-piece on the great table within the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ museum testifies to this and is interwoven with ancient Clan Campbell folklore, back to their remote ancestor Diarmaid of the boar, nephew of Fingal.
Bringing it up to the present day, we see the castle in its restorational upgrading as a place of pageant and hospitality, when Stirling finally gains the status of City.
Review:
" There is no one like Paraig MacNeil to unify a theme across history, and here he is doing just that in a unique and effective manner. He weaves a narrative in English poetry around original Scottish tales in a variety of historical languages, covering the Castle and Its great Tapestries and their symbols. Only MacNeil could take a story spanning many centuries and progress it from Arthurian days to the present Castle restoration, in rhyming couplets in modern English.
While being within his oevre in broad terms, The Brooch the Yarn and the Unicorn is different from any other of Paraig MacNeil’s poetic works.
Once you latch onto what MacNeil is doing in unifying the piecemeal stories of Scotland, you are a convert for life, realising that the cumulative work is like, say, the Arabian Knights tales, or a piecing together of Homeric history, or the Aeneid. It is such a major body of work that it is difficult to realise it close up. We are too accustomed to page length poems and faint themes from other poets, but here we have a sustained and fertile poetic mind producing really powerful work. "
Sally Evans, Editor, Poetry Scotland, 2016
If you are USA then click here
Through its layers of time and ages, generation through generation, Stirling Castle's tales unfold in this book in prose and in verse from the voices of those who molded or witnessed its history and the keys to unlocking or linking the layers, set out in rhyming couplets.
From Arthur of the Britons to ‘Little Arthur’, James VI and I, we see the Rock as a royal seat and fortress. Beyond this, we see it as a garrison or barracks, conspicuous in a newer age of martial exploits allied with the ‘auld enemy’, in the field of battle in the distant parts of the earth. And now in its restoration and upgrading, a place of hospitality and heritage portrayed in pageant for the visitor.
Throughout this journey we trace the castle’s ancient yet timeless icons and symbols, steadfast in relevance and meaning to all generations, and into a brave new
future.
The traditional tales, verses and songs within this book are contained or encased within an original poem by the authro that is 2,000 lines long. In sections interspersed between each contribution, it is constructed in rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter or the ‘hero’ metre. The language of this piece is primarily English, while the contributions are in the language or dialect of the writers or contributors, which include medieval Scots, vernacular Scots, Gaelic of both Ireland and Scotland, French and Latin, mostly with translations.
Symbolically central to this work is the Unicorn Hunt tapestry series, which medieval enigma signifies not only the messianic message but also the badge of the Royal House of Stewart, or Stuart who ruled from the castle for two and a half centuries. Some of the Unicorn Hunt tapestries can be seen on display in the palace whilst others are in the remaking by the weavers of the castle.
Other symbols include the Lion Rampant, designed by the castle’s very own King William the Lion, who also gave us the Auld Alliance, the economic and social alliance with France and Norway. Wild boars are also conspicuous on the facades as is the Guid Man o’ Ballengeich or King James V.
The last Stuart monarch to reign from the castle was the disciple monarch James VI, who was to prophetically become James I of England and the king of Britain. He commissioned the translation of the now still revered and much used King James Bible of which 2011 is the 400th anniversary of its publishing. Apart from being the best translation ever in English it became the book that taught the world English and the only book ever to sell over one billion copies!
The post monarchic military history of the castle was central to training Highland regiments of martial fame and the men who freed us from possible Nazi oppression. The silver centre-piece on the great table within the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ museum testifies to this and is interwoven with ancient Clan Campbell folklore, back to their remote ancestor Diarmaid of the boar, nephew of Fingal.
Bringing it up to the present day, we see the castle in its restorational upgrading as a place of pageant and hospitality, when Stirling finally gains the status of City.
Review:
" There is no one like Paraig MacNeil to unify a theme across history, and here he is doing just that in a unique and effective manner. He weaves a narrative in English poetry around original Scottish tales in a variety of historical languages, covering the Castle and Its great Tapestries and their symbols. Only MacNeil could take a story spanning many centuries and progress it from Arthurian days to the present Castle restoration, in rhyming couplets in modern English.
While being within his oevre in broad terms, The Brooch the Yarn and the Unicorn is different from any other of Paraig MacNeil’s poetic works.
Once you latch onto what MacNeil is doing in unifying the piecemeal stories of Scotland, you are a convert for life, realising that the cumulative work is like, say, the Arabian Knights tales, or a piecing together of Homeric history, or the Aeneid. It is such a major body of work that it is difficult to realise it close up. We are too accustomed to page length poems and faint themes from other poets, but here we have a sustained and fertile poetic mind producing really powerful work. "
Sally Evans, Editor, Poetry Scotland, 2016
