Ronald MacDonald Douglas
Ronald MacDonald Douglas | |
|---|---|
 Douglas in 1936 | |
| Born | 1896 |
| Died | 1984 (aged 87–88) |
| Occupation | Folklorist |
| Subject | Celtic Folklore |
| Notable works | The Scottish Book of Lore and Folklore |
Ronald MacDonald Douglas was the pseudonym of Ronald Edmonston[1] (1896–1984), a Scottish author, actor and political figure known for his works compiling Scottish folklore and his involvement in the 1320 Club.[2] Douglas was the editor of Catalyst, the magazine of the 1320 Club, following the removal of John Herdman.[2]
Early life
[edit]Ronald Edmonston was born in 1896.[3] By 1930 he was running a theatre in Dún Laoghaire.[1]
1930s
[edit]In 1935 Douglas was apprehended by British agents in Geneva while attempting to buy ordinance. Though released, he was warned not to return to Scotland.[3] In 1938 Douglas was invited to visit the Brown House in Munich and met with Rudolf Hess.[1] After Douglas returned to Scotland he was charged with high treason[3] and though the charges were dropped[1] Douglas fled to Ireland, where he stayed until after the war.[4]
Return to Scotland
[edit]Following the strong result for the Scottish National Party in the 1962 West Lothian by-election, Douglas returned to Scotland. In Edinburgh, he helped found the 1320 Club with many other veteran Scottish Nationalists including Hugh MacDiarmid and Wendy Wood.[3]
Death
[edit]Ronald MacDonald Douglas died in 1984.[3]
Bibliography
[edit]- Strangers Come Home (1935)
- The Scottish Book of Lore and Folklore (1935)
- The Irish Book: A Miscellany of Facts and Fancies, Folklore and Fragments, Poems and Prose to do with Ireland and her People (1936)
- The Sword of Freedom: A Romance of Lord James of Douglas and Scotland's War of Independence (1936)
- Gizzageak : the collected stories of Ronald MacDonald Douglas (1988)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Leach, Daniel (2 November 2007). "The Unwelcome Brothers". Irish Studies Review. 15 (4): 425–449 – via Taylor & Francis.
- ^ a b Purdie, Bob (31 October 2012). Hugh MacDiarmid: Black, Green, Red and Tartan. Welsh Academic Press. pp. 119–120. ISBN 9781860570278.
- ^ a b c d e "Siol nan Gaidheal - Ronald MacDonald Douglas, Author and Patriot". Siol nan Gaidheal. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "Ronald MacDonald Douglas, Author and Patriot". www.douglashistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-19.