Striking and Picturesque Delineations of the Grand, Beautiful, Wonderful, and Interesting Scenery Around Loch-Earn

Infobox Book
name = Striking and Picturesque Delineations of the Grand, Beautiful, Wonderful, and Interesting Scenery Around Loch-Earn


image_caption =
author = Angus McDiarmid
country = Scotland
language = "English"
subject = Southern Scottish Highlands
genre = Description and travel
publisher = John Moir
pub_date = 1815
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 28 (main text)
oclc = 29627181

"Striking and Picturesque Delineations of the Grand, Beautiful, Wonderful, and Interesting Scenery Around Loch-Earn," also published as "A Description of the Beauties of Edinample and Lochearnhead," is a short book by the Scotsman Angus McDiarmid (1770?–1820?) that led the local-history populariser Archie McKerracher to call him "the world's worst author".cite book | last = McKerracher | first = Archie | year = 1988 | title = Perthshire in History and Legend | location = Edinburgh | publisher = John Donald Publishing | pages = 89 | isbn = 085976-223-8]

ynopsis

The book begins with a dedication to the Earl of Breadalbane (presumably John Campbell, the fourth Earl). Its "grovelling and abject" tone was unusual by that time. [cite book | last = Walsh | first = William S. | year = 1893 | title = Handy-Book of Literary Curiosities | location = Philadelphia | publisher = J. B. Lippincott Company | pages = 224 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=W4vrN9ODINYC&pg=PA22 | accessdate = 2008-10-03] An anonymous preface recounts how an unnamed "Gentleman", on a grouse-shooting visit to the earl's estate in the Lochearnhead region, met Angus McDiarmid, a ground-officer (or ghillie, a gamekeeper and hunting-guide) of the earl's. Struck by McDiarmid's eloquent descriptions of the scenery and associated legends, the gentleman learned that McDiarmid had written a manuscript, which McDiarmid entrusted to him to be published. The preface assures the reader that visitors to Lochearnhead could confirm McDiarmid's existence and his sole authorship of the book. It then praises the "unparalleled sublimity" of the book's style, which it connects with the rugged Highland landscape and offers as the reason McDiarmid's sentences "overleap the mounds and impediments of grammar".cite book | last = McDiarmid | first = Angus | year = 1815 | title = Striking and Picturesque Delineations of the Grand, Beautiful, Wonderful, and Interesting Scenery Around Loch-Earn | publisher = John Moir | location = Edinburgh | pages = viii | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=2MUHAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover | accessdate = 2008-09-30]

The main text is 28 pages about the region near Lochearnhead. There are three sections. "Sketch of the scenery at Loch-Earn" describes the cataract at Edinample; Edinample Castle; two trees knocked down by the wind that later grew straight (the trees were gone by the time the book was written, but the place could still be seen); unusual concave landforms in a moor; an unusual concave landform on a mountain opposite the castle; Glen Ogle; and Loch Earn with two of its islands, one a crannog or prehistoric artificial island.

"Sketch of the following descriptions" describes the nearby mountains of Ben Vorlich, Craig-na-Gaur, Stùc a' Chroin, and Ben Each; some wild animals of the hills; the sheep and black cattle formerly pastured in Glen Ample; "Glen of the Piper", named after a bagpiper who warned the local people of an approaching band of marauders; the beauty of Glen Beich with its cataract; a lake in Glen Ogle where legend says a kelpie killed nine children; one robber who saved another from an arrow wound; some kind of earthquake in the Grampian Mountains; and Edinchip, named after a Roman soldier's hiding from a battle there.

"Sketch of an Ancient History deserves to be Inserted" describes a cattle-raid on the region and the defense by a local man, "Major Roy of Hens"; a sheep-robber; a strong man named Envie; a wolf that entered a cottage; and a remarkable bull attacked by two remarkable "wolfs".

McDiarmid's dedication is in grammatical English, but the main text is not, and is full of obscure and misused words. The paragraph about the earthquake may give an idea:

:It merits the trouble to exhibit a description of a part of Glenogle's Grampian mountains, disjointed in the time of the generations past ; which event happen about the twilight, that the dread of the horrible sight seized the beholders with fear, ultera the comprehension of the individual, discernible to their sight. The pillars of fire rising from the parting of the rock, where there was a cement, the stones forcibly dashing one against another, that the melancholy sight was similar to a corner of mountain set wholly on fire, also overhearing such a loud noise of the stones break at juncture ; which vociferous might reach the ears of the people living at great distant. This place perceptible to view of the beholders that passes by. [McDiarmid. "op. cit.", 16–17.]

Reaction

Starting with the book's own preface, [McDiarmid "op. cit.," viii.] it has been classified as a "literary curiosity".cite journal | last = Mitchell | first = Arthur | year = 1901 | title = A List of Travels, Tours, Etc., Relating to Scotland | journal = Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland | volume = Ser. 3, Vol. 11 | pages = 546 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=PkADAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA546 | accessdate = 2008-10-03] As the publisher intended, it seems to have succeeded as unintentional humour. One "J. Ss.", answering a question in "Notes and Queries", describes buying a copy of the book from McDiarmid two or three years after its publication and having McDiarmid read it to him and his companions, amusing not only J. Ss. but also McDiarmid's fellow ghillies.cite journal | author = "J. Ss." | title = Angus M'Diarmid | journal = Notes and Queries | date = April 15, 1865 | volume = 3rd S. VII | pages = 305–306 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=U00AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA305 | accessdate = 2008-10-02] A later bookseller called it "a most amusing specimen of Gaelic-English"cite book | last = Johnston | first = George P | year = 1881 | title = Catalogue of Rare, Curious, and Valuable Books in Poetry, the Drama, Shakesperiana, Antiquities, Fine Arts, Early Printing, Ana, Etc., and Scottish Literature, on Sale by George P. Johnston, 21 South Hanover Street, Edinburgh | location = Edinburgh | publisher = Commercial Printing Company | pages = 8 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=CmM0AAAAMAAJ&pg=PT669&dq=Edinample | accessdate = 2008-10-02] In an unusually favourable opinion, "R. S. A.", another commentator in " [http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/archive/ Notes and Queries] ", explicitly refrains from comment on the writing but praises McDiarmid's perception of natural beauty and "generous ardour" in narrating feats of heroism.cite journal | author = "R. S. A." | title = Angus M'Diarmid | journal = Notes and Queries | date = Jan. 14, 1865 | volume = 3rd S. VIII | pages = 43 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=S4CffIcMB9UC&pg=PA43 | accessdate = 2008-09-30]

Probably the best-known phrase in the book is "incoherent transactions", apparently referring to theft, which occurs three times. Robert Southey used it twice (with credit to McDiarmid) in his "Life of Cowper" to describe William Hayley's eccentricities [cite book | last = Southey | first = Robert | authorlink = Robert Southey | year = 1853 | title = The Works of William Cowper. Comprising His Poems, Correspondence, and Translations. With a Life of the Author by the Editor, Robert Southey, LL.D., Poet Laureate, Etc. Volume II | chapter = Life of Cowper | editor = Cowper, William | location = London | publisher = H. G. Bohn | pages = 110, 141 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=z10JAAAAQAAJ&printsec=titlepage | accessdate = 2008-10-02] and in at least two letters. [cite book | last = Southey | first = Robert | year = 1856 | title = Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, Vol. IV | chapter = Letter to John Rickman, March 13, 1832 | editor = Warter, John Wood | publisher = Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts | pages = 263–265 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=xDkBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA264 | accessdate = 2008-10-04] [cite book | last = Southey | first = Robert | year = 1881 | title = The Correspondence of Robert Southey with Caroline Bowles | editor = Dowden, Edward | chapter = Letter to Caroline Bowles, May 29, 1836 | location = Dublin | publisher = Hodges, Figgis, & Co. | pages = 339–340 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=qSQ4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA339 | accessdate = 2008-10-04] Dr. John Brown cited it as well and took it to apply to Rob Roy [cite book | last = Brown | first = John | authorlink = John Brown (physician) | year = 1858 | edition = 1897 edition | title = Horæ Subsecivæ | location = London | publisher = Adam and Charles Black | pages = xxxvi | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=V1QOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PR36 | accessdate = 2008-10-02 The following phrase, "specially in general", is not in the first edition.] (possibly identifying as Rob Roy a robber McDiarmid described, "a barbarous man... who was notoriously for savageness of manner"). [McDiarmid "op. cit.," 23.] A more recent mention of the phrase is in Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Pale Fire"; the narrator sees McDiarmid's prose as a precursor to "Finnegans Wake", [cite book | last = Nabokov | first = Vladimir | authorlink = Vladimir Nabokov | year = 1962 | title = Pale Fire | edition = 1989 edition | publisher = Vintage International | pages = 76 | isbn = 0-679-72342-0] a comparison Nabokov also made in a draft note. [Vladimir Nabokov. Quoted by cite book | last = Boyd | first = Brian | year = 1996 | chapter = Notes | editor = Vladimir Nabokov | title = Novels 1955–1962: Lolita / Pnin / Pale Fire | publisher = Library of America | pages = 893 | isbn = 1883011191]

A folklorist quotes McDiarmid's kelpie story and called the book "one of the most astonishing books ever written in 'English'". [cite book | last = Nicholson | first = Edward W. B. | year = 1897 | title = Golspie: Contributions to its Folklore | location = London | publisher = David Nutt | pages = 24 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=G_sVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA24 | accessdate = 2008-10-02]

To account for McDiarmid's style, "J. Ss." said that McDiarmid's native language was Scottish Gaelic, and in translating his writings into English, he used a dictionary extensively, choosing the most impressive word without regard to its part of speech. McKerracher says that McDiarmid's minister read in church some Gaelic translations from Samuel Johnson, and McDiarmid tried to emulate or surpass Johnson's orotund expression.

The author

Beyond what has been stated above, little is known about Angus McDiarmid. "R. S. A." says that in 1815 he was introduced to McDiarmid, "a fine athletic young man", enthusiastic but modest. McKerracher suggests a birth year around 1770, which does not agree well with "young" in 1815. "J. Ss." mentions meeting McDiarmid a few years later and describes him as dressing in a black coat and a hat instead "in the highland fashion" (presumably the Scottish kilt and associated clothing) like the other ghillies and as being more poorly dressed than they were.

An antiquarian notes that although most accept the book as authentic, one may doubt whether McDiarmid existed.cite journal | last = Mitchell | first = Arthur | year = 1901 | title = A List of Travels, Tours, Etc., Relating to Scotland | journal = Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland | volume = Ser. 3, Vol. 11 | pages = 546 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=PkADAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA546 | accessdate = 2008-10-03] If he did not, "J. Ss." and "R. S. A." must have joined in the hoax, fifty years later.

Publication history

"J. Ss." recalled that the man who first had the manuscript published was a Colonel O'Reilly, and that O'Reilly gave the print run to McDiarmid to sell for his own benefit.

*cite book | last = McDiarmid | first = Angus, ground-officer on the Earl of Breadalbane's estate of Edinample | year = 1815 | title = Striking and Picturesque Delineations of the Grand, Beautiful, Wonderful, and Interesting Scenery Around Loch-Earn | publisher = John Moir | location = Edinburgh | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=2MUHAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover | accessdate = 2008-09-30 Bound in morocco, with the top edge gilt.cite book | last = Slater | first = J. H., ed. | year = 1889 | title = Book-prices Current, Volume II | location = London | publisher = Elliot Stock | pages = 119 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9vreAVvNkygC&pg=PA119 | accessdate = 2008-10-03]
*1816. Second Edition, with Important additions. Edinburgh: John Moir. [ [http://encore.lib.gla.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C|Rb1640046|SM%27Diarmid%2C+Angus.|Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=def "Encore"] (library-search result). University of Glasgow. Retrieved on 2008-10-04.]
*1841. As "A Description of the Beauties of Edinample and Lochearnhead." Aberfeldy: D. Cameron. Bound in half-calf, with the top edge gilt.
*MacDiarmid, Angus (1875). "Cunntas ar Boidhecheadan Ceann-Lochearn agus Edinapolis le Aonghas Mac Dhiarmid. An treas clo-bhualadh le mineachadh agus Soilleireachd. Or a Description of the Beauties of Edinample and Lochearnhead." Third Edition, with Notes and Illustrations. Edited by Fear Gall. Edinburgh. Includes eight plates. Only the title is in Gaelic.cite book | last = Maclean | first = Donald | year = | title = Typographica Scoto-Gadelica; or, Books Printed in the Gaelic of Scotland from the Year 1567 to the Year 1914, with Bibliographical and Biographical Notes | location = Edinburgh | publisher = John Grant | pages = 186–187 | url = http://www.archive.org/stream/typographiascoto00maclrich/typographiascoto00maclrich_djvu.txt | accessdate = 2008-10-04 [http://www.archive.org/download/typographiascoto00maclrich.pdf pdf] ]
*McDiarmid, Angus (1876). " [http://books.google.com/books?id=XE9fHAAACAAJ A Description of the Beauties of Edinample and Lochearnhead] ." Aberfeldy: D. Cameron. Retrieved on 2008-09-30.

In 1888 an uncut first edition sold at auction for £5 10 shillings, equivalent to £439.26 in 2007 currency by the retail-price index. [cite web | title = Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds | publisher = MeasuringWorth | url = http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/ | accessdate = 2008-10-03]

ee also

*"English as She is Spoke", a 19th-century English-Portuguese dictionary whose wild inaccuracy made it another example of unintentional humour.

References