FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question

Answer

Is there a video available of Sunset Song?

No. The BBC has never produced a video of any of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s television adaptations. If you wish to write to the BBC the address is:

BBC Scotland

Queen Margaret Drive

Glasgow G12 8DG

Where is the actual croft featured in the BBC’s dramatisation of Sunset Song as Blaewearie?

Although Blaewearie in Sunset Song is said to be based on the croft of Bloomfield in Arbuthnott where Leslie Mitchell lived, the BBC filmed the Blaewearie scenes for their adaptation at a croft called Braliemuir beside Auchenblae.

What does the word ‘Quair’ mean?

The Concise Scots Dictionary definition for ‘Quair’ is: "1 – quire (24 sheets of writing paper). 2 – a literary work of any length, orig. one that might occupy a quire of paper."

In modern editions of

A Scots Quair there is a glossary. Was there a glossary in original editions?

There was not a glossary in the first British editions only the American ones. The first British edition to include a glossary was Longman in 1970.

Where are the standing stones in Arbuthnott?

There is not a circle of standing stones in Arbuthnott as depicted in Sunset Song. There are a few individual standing stones but all are situated on private land and are accessible with difficulty to visitors.

How did Leslie Mitchell die?

He suffered severe stomach pains in December 1934, which was diagnosed as gastritis. Subsequently, he underwent an emergency operation in Queen Victoria Hospital, Welwyn on 4th February 1935 for a perforated gastric ulcer and died of peritonitis on 7th February 1935, one week before his 34th birthday.

Does Leslie Mitchell have any children?

 

Yes, he has a daughter Rhea Sylvia, born on 17th March 1930 and a son Daryll Allan Leslie, Born on 16th March 1934. Both live in England.

Where does the name Lewis Grassic Gibbon come from? It is adapted from Leslie Mitchell’s maternal grandmother whose maiden name was Lilias Grassick and her married name was Gibbon. Leslie Mitchell’s mother’s maiden name was Lilias Grant Gibbon.

Does Leslie Mitchell have any brothers or sisters?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, he had two half brothers.

George Donald Gibbon born 8th January 1893. He immigrated to Canada and died in 1949.

John Grassick Hall Gibbon born on 16th November 1897. He settled in Glasgow and died in 1966.

 

Please e-mail us your questions and we shall attempt to respond either directly to you or deal with it on this page.

Return to Home Page

| LGG-The Author  | Critical Works  | A Scots Quair  |  Other Published Work  |

|The GG Centre  |  Newsletter Events Merchandise Links  |

Return to Home Page

| LGG-The Author  | Critical Works  | A Scots Quair  |  Other Published Work  |

|The GG Centre  |  Newsletter  |   Mail order Links |