A State of Mind: The Scots in Nova Scotia

Edith Fowke is a professor emeritus at York University and author of the
recently published Canadian Folklore: Perspectives on Canadian Culture.

R.A. MacLean, an expert on the history of Nova Scotia, has produced, in
this small book, a bird’s-eye view of the Scottish pioneers, from the
landing of the Hector in 1773, bringing the first large group of
Scottish settlers to Pictou, to the present. This book is not a history
but a series of short items, lavishly illustrated with sketches and
photographs, about the character and lifestyle of the Scots. Subjects
dealt with include bochans (ghost spirits) and witches, superstitions,
jokes, legends, and games—golf and curling, as well as the Antigonish
Highland Games, which have been held most years since 1863. Genealogical
research outlines the clans and tartans. The book includes profiles of
the Cape Breton Giant, Angus McAskill; the long-time premier Angus
Macdonald; the bards John MacLean and James D. Gillis; and the
expatriate Scot Alexander Graham Bell. Attractively produced, the book
conveys a vivid impression of Nova Scotia people and events and Scottish
culture.