Edwin King (Author)

  I am excited to be almost finished a project I've been mulling over since the 1990s when I was studying Gaelic literature in Edinburgh. In this project, I have reconstructed the life and lament of Aithbhreac Nighean Corcadail, a 15th-century Gaelic poetess known for her powerful elegy Oh Rosary That Woke My Tears .  At its heart is a fictional retelling of Aithbhreac's story, rooted in historical detail and imaginative narrative, culminating in my own new English version of her famous poem. My little book brings to life her world in Castle Sween during the golden age of the Lordship of the Isles, drawing on medieval Gaelic poetry, bardic traditions, and the cultural dynamics of the period. Exploring themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of faith and memory, I weave historical and creative storytelling together.  Alongside a close analysis of multiple translations of Aithbhreac's poem, I reflect on my own Celtic heritage, academic influences, and the importance of...

 A New Critical Edition Olive Custance is one of those poets who lingers in the margins of literary history, often referenced in relation to her husband, Lord Alfred Douglas, or as a minor figure in the fin de siècle Decadent movement. Yet, to see her only through these lenses is to miss the brilliance of her poetry—poetry that shimmers with longing, beauty, and the search for meaning. On the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of her death, I reissued The Inn of Dreams in 2015 as a modest critical edition. This was both a tribute and an effort to restore her voice to the conversation on Victorian and Edwardian poetry. Now, several years later, the book remains an important resource for those interested in her work and in the rich literary culture of the 1890s and early 20th century. Why The Inn of Dreams? Unlike previous selections of Custance’s work, this edition does not impose an external perspective on her poetry. The selection is her own—The Inn of Dreams represents the cu...