Gael orce
‘MY FASCINATION WITH
LANGUAGE HAS EVERYTHING
TO DO WITH HUMANITY'
As Angus Peter Campbell helps launch a new publishing venture, Rodge Glass finds an author asking crucial questions about language and culture.
ngus Peter ('ampbell may be used to a small.
(iaclic-spcaking audience. so moying on to
write his lirst book in linglish is an ambitious yet perhaps oby‘iotls moye. But with two critically acclaimed noyels behind him already (one of which. 'l'lit‘ Night “(f/ii)? ll'i' Sui/ml. was the only Gaelic work to make it into the top ten ol’ this magazine‘s I()() Bust Scottish Books oil-ill 'li'im'). he‘s already had proycn success. But this language move is not a permanent one and in any case. Campbell l‘ecls a responsibility to (iaelic literature: ‘There are so few (iaelic works and I didn't want to translate my existing work into linglish: I wanted to protect it.‘
He is currently working on another major (iaelic noyel. so why does this new book in linglish appear at all‘.’ ‘I wrote this for those not l'amiliar with (iaelic. because enough people asked me to write one.‘ And here it is. lin'isihlc Islands is a slim collection that show cases (‘ampbell‘s tisual lyrical style. this time published by a new. small independent Glasgow publisher. ()tago lww'w.inyisibleislandscoml say they plan to keep to ycry few books a year. concentrating all their el’l'orts‘ on those they passionately belieye in. ()tago’s publisher .lohn Storey worked with Campbell on preyious books and quickly snapped him tip for their launch. It will be interesting to see what follows.
The book is particularly inspired by the work of
ltalo (‘alyino. looking at 2| imaginary islands lgiyen Gaelic names but very international otherwise). exploring the geography. history and language of each along the way. Few have a traditional story. and it can be difficult to see where some are going. Campbell's style is gently meandering. and occasionally the tales seem like a
28 THE LIST 7—21 Sec 2006
history lesson. deliycring lots ol‘ information about the origin ol' words or traditions. But there are strong themes that link each piece. In ‘Beurla' (meaning ‘linglish‘l a \‘lslltil‘ persuades the inhabitants of the island to abandon their culture. the story linishing with a bold statement showing that the author belicycs it‘s up to communities to take responsibility l‘or their choices: 'Always the stranger. always the other l‘rom someplace else. always some tall thin man who came and took the cards from our hands and l'ro/e the words on our lips and took the goodness out of our music and swept the lire from the centre of thc llooi‘ and set a searing bonlirc in our hearts.‘
Questions of language and culture are central throughout. ln ‘('umanta'. (the ordinary island).
words themsclyes are questioned as carriers ol
meaning. ‘liycry adyerb drags a library behind it.. it reads. ‘eyery noun a civilisation. eyery adjectiyc a universe.‘ The author himsell' explains his stance. ‘.‘\ly l'ascination with language has nothing to with linguistics. but eycrything to do with humanity. I think expressing ourselyes — whether through comersation. literature. art. music or whatever ~- is a fundamental human gil'ting and that we sul'l'er terribly when that gil‘ting is withdrawn. like a punishment. I am interested in the ways in which we as human beings choose to express ourselyes. or haye our liyes expressed for us. and it often seems to me that a literary or linguistic liberation is actually both the prerequisite and the consequence of a l'uller human lil‘e.‘
Invisible Islands is out now published by Otago.
llit
THE BEST BOOKS & EVENTS
>l<
._. “A. o”
all Robert Harris The former TV news reporter, current brother-in-Iaw to Nick Hornby and author of bestselling romps such as Father/and. Enigma and Archangel returns with lmperium, the first of his Roman saga trilogy. Borders Books. Glasgow. Thu 7 Sep.
’I‘ John Hegley After a highly successful Edinburgh Fringe run, the Luton lad keeps the ball rolling with more of his tun rhymes and entertaining stories. Non-spectacle wearers will be made most welcome. Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 8 Sep.
* Maggie O’Farrell This author was once better known for having lived in all the countries of the United Kingdom at one time in her life and for being deputy literary editor at the Independent on Sunday. Now though, she's creating awe-inspiring fiction with the likes of her new one. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. See review. page 29. Waterstone’s, Glasgow, Tue 12 Sep; Review.
3|: Roald Dahl Day The legendary kids writer would have been 90 today, so what better reason to get all Dahlian with this day of scary and silly stuff. B/ackwe/ls. Edinburgh. Wed 73 Sep.
’I‘ Alasdair Gray The godfather of Scottish literature is next in line for the Bridge Readings season as he keeps the audience enthralled with his wit and wisdom. National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Wed 20 Sep.
* Angus Peter Campbell The guy who nabbed a top ten spot in our 100 Best Scottish Books of All Time list gives us his first English language story. And helps launch a new publishing venture at the same time. Not bad going. See preview. left. Otago.