CAOIR GHEAL LEUMRAICH / WHITE LEAPING FLAME: Collected Poems in Gaelic with English Translations.

First edition, first printing. Original black cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the dustwrapper designed by James Hutcheson. An fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth and gilt sharp, the contents clean throughout. Small bump to the lower edge of the text block lightly affecting the edges (c. 0.5 cm) of eight pages. Complete with the very near fine, unclipped dustwrapper, with a small closed nick (c. 3mm) to the corner of the lower spine tip. A lovely copy. Priced (£25) to the rear panel.

The definitive edition of the poems of Sorley MacLean (1911-1996), containing all the published poems as well as a generous selection of uncollected work, with substantial introductory material and annotations. Everything is presented in the original Gaelic along with the poet's own English versions on facing pages (complemented where necessary by editorial translations). MacLean is recognised as the most significant writer in Scottish Gaelic of the twentieth century, but the richness of these poems extends far beyond the bounds of his nation or his language. "It is often late, by chance, and with sudden delight, that we find those poets who later become vital to us [...] I knew Sorley MacLean by reputation before I felt his authoriity [...] what was unlooked for has grown indispensable" (Seamus Heaney); "One of the very greatest of the Gaelic poets [...] and one of the great love poets of the world" (Iain Crichton Smith).