BY YON BONNIE BRAE | THE LEGEND OF FINGAL | The great 18th century Gaelic literary hoax with Sylvia Sagona

James McPherson rose to celebrity as the “translator” of long lost Gaelic manuscripts which he had “discovered” in the Scottish highlands. The Works of Ossian, son of Fingal were hailed throughout Europe as the Gaelic equivalent of Homer and the stories of Walhalla. 

Napoleon always carried a copy to the battlefield and commissioned French artists to use the legend for his own propaganda. Despite being denounced as a fake by Samuel Johnson, the Ossian saga inspired the first works of the Romantic movement and McPherson, the great con man, bought the right to be interred in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Over the centuries France and Scotland have often been allies against their common enemy; the English. Indeed, during the 100 years War, Joan of Arc was supported by Scottish guards in her victory over the English at Orleans. It would be Scottish spies employed as mapmakers for Henry VIII who would supply the French with vital intelligence for a thwarted invasion. When Mary Queen of Scots, who had been brought up at the French court, married the Dauphin of France, there were hopes that the two countries would be finally united. She brought the French language and customs to the Scottish court.

This series of lectures will examine the close relationship between these two countries based on mutual respect and cultural similarities

SYLVIA SAGONA is an internationally recognised specialist on 19th century French society. She retired from the French Department at The University of Melbourne to work on historical documentaries for French and Australian television and is currently researching a book on the invention of the restaurant in Paris in the 18th century