Scottish sketches
by Amelia E. Barr (1831–1919)
- Free to read
- 4 hours to read
- 33 chapters
- Reading level: 7th grade
"Scottish Sketches" by Amelia E. Barr is a collection of short stories likely written in the late 19th century. The narrative is set in Scotland, focusing on the lives and struggles of various characters connected to the Crawford family, particularly the laird Alexander Crawford and his son, Colin, as they navigate personal and social challenges amidst the backdrop of Scottish culture and identity. The opening portion introduces Alexander Crawford, who is reflecting on his wealth and the legacy of his family while preparing for the return of his son, Colin, from Glasgow. As the story unfolds, we see Crawford's pride in his estate and his fervent nationalism, as well as his concerns about Colin's potential association with an English visitor. This sets the stage for a generational conflict and themes of duty versus personal desire, as Colin harbors aspirations and ideals that may clash with his father's expectations. The opening establishes both the tension within the family and the societal changes encroaching upon their traditional way of life, hinting at deeper explorations of character dynamics and cultural identity throughout the collection.
- Short stories
- Scotland · Social life and customs
Read the opening
Chapter I
Alexander Crawford sat reading a book which he studied frequently with a profound interest. Not the Bible: that volume had indeed its place of honor in the room, but the book Crawford read was a smaller one; it was stoutly bound and secured by a brass lock, and it was all in manuscript. It was his private ledger, and it contained his bank account. Its contents seemed to give him much solid satisfaction; and when at last he locked the volume and replaced it in his secretary, it was with that careful respect which he considered due to the representative of so many thousand pounds.
He was in a placid mood, and strangely inclined to retrospection. Thoughtfully fingering the key which locked up the record of his wealth, he walked to the window and looked out. It was a dreary prospect of brown moor and gray sea, but Crawford loved it. The bare land and the barren mountains was the country of the Crawfords. He had a fixed idea that it always had been theirs, and whenever he told himself—as he did this night—that so many acres of old Scotland were actually his own, he was aggressively a Scotchman.
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About this edition
This free edition of Scottish sketches by Amelia E. Barr comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #14494, released 2004-12-28. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories.
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