Webspinner

Duncan Williamson was not just a remarkable representative of Homo narrans, the hominid that tells stories. He was also a unique individual endowed with acute intelligence, high spirits, and exceptional resiliency. Moreover, he led his life in accord with a well-defined worldview, one that prioritized self-reliance, sociability, respect for nature and wildlife, and special consideration for children, the elderly, and the needy. This chapter gives a brief account of how the present book was made while at the same time commemorating the author’s friendship with Williamson over a number of years. The chapter casts a retrospective eye on the Scottish cultural geography that Williamson’s tales call to mind, for to some extent at least, Williamson’s voice was the voice of all Scotland. Featured toward the end of the chapter is a recitation, “Webspinner,” that is emblematic of Duncan’s identity as a master of the art of oral narrative.