Charles MacDonald (1835–1894)

Moidart: Among the Clanranalds is a history of the people who inhabited some of the most beautiful land in the world. It is a harsh and difficult place where the greatest branch of the greatest clan lived. Charles MacDonald's work written in around 1889 represents the authentic voice of a man who came to be part of the Rough Bounds in that stretch of the Scottish west coast across the water from the south of Skye. His history largely tells the story through the leaders of Clanranald but also includes anecdote and perspective from his contemporaries around Moidart.

As a cleric in the Moidart area Charles MacDonald was in position to see first hand the world of the Clanranald as it existed in the late 19th century, a long time after the decline of the Gàidhealtachd. He chooses to write the story of those centuries when decline was not yet complete, a history starting really with John of Islay who ruled these parts through most of the 14th century. It is a stirring and vivid account of John's times. The context of the 14th century, sometimes rightly dubbed the worst century of them all, is not really given because this is at its heart a local tale.

The locality is what matters here. Moidart and its surrounds represent a home even if the savage beauty of the place might inevitably only make it a home for the hardier of folk. Charles begins and ends his story with the place and some of its people. He tells of its physical features as well as providing an invaluable account of some of the families in the area and their holdings.

Charles MacDonald tells the history that unfolds between the 14th and 18th centuries from the perspective of this corner of the Western Highlands. It includes anecdotes involving heroic figures such as the 4th chief, Allan, as well as lesser figures such as the hated and seemingly insane Dougall. Perhaps more interesting are the tales of the preacher and strongman Alasdair mac Mhagistir and his son the poet Alasdair mac Mhagistir Alasdair. Great characters like these exist in every community, it is wonderful that Charles MacDonald put together various tales to bring these people to life so long afterwards.

It is also interesting to read of the late 19th century. Charles MacDonald was writing roughly 150 years after the Jacobite rising of the '45 which was the proximate cause of the final collapse of Gaelic Scotland given the Campbell-led purges afterwards. The revival of enthusiasm for the Highland way of life long after it had really passed over into memory provides the context for the work of Charles MacDonald. He straddles fascinating moral and political lines. He lavishly praises the royalist beliefs of the Highlanders while also noting many Clanranald and Moidart denizens who went on to great success in the British Empire or in fighting for the Union side in the American Civil War. He is largely critical of the brutal campaign of devastation led by the British Crown through its proxies the Campbells in the mid 18th century but is careful to offer no criticism at all of the Crown in its late 19th century form.

Charles MacDonald's views on the Clearances and the famine that proceeded them are fascinating. He ascribes the emigration as largely being voluntary and so a good thing as people moved to better lives. That they should never have had to move to better lives had the clan system survived more intact is not really well understood in this work. The feudal existence by the time of the Clearances is in part the result of adopting alien cultural practices such as primogeniture. Still, Charles MacDonald does offer one nugget which is that the poverty of crofters would be alleviated if their holdings were not so punitively small. Sound economics recognising the importance of economies of scale.

This account is not the complete story of Clanranald, Clan Donald, and Moidart. It skips over events such as Bloody Bay. On the other hand, the description of well-known parts of history such as how Clanranald managed to kickstart the '45 is intriguing. His brief description of the Jacobite events is incredibly readable. It is as exciting as any modern effort.

The readability of the work in general is pretty good. Late 19th century history writers seem to have a style that has remained accessible more than a hundred years later. It helps that Charles MacDonald is a brilliant writer. He weaves together a narrative that never relents throughout hundreds of years of history while also telling quirky anecdotes and bringing some of the people and place vividly to life.

The publication of this work in 1997 and the subsequent editions includes John Watt as editor. He does a great job. Watt's editing includes an introduction almost as interesting as the chapters themselves as well as a summary at the end. Each chapter includes a set of notes such as translations, corrections, and a bit of context. Watt sensibly does not interrupt the flow of the great writing but puts corrections at the end of chapters. A description of more general errors such as weaknesses in the gàidhlig used by Charles MacDonald comes right at the end of the book along with translations of names. The translation and pronunciation guide for names is a bit unnecessary but otherwise Watt adds value as editor.

The value here though is excellent for anyone with an interest. It probably is only peripherally interesting for those from the outside. However, Moidart: Among the Clanranalds is absolutely essential reading for any Clanranald of MacDonald, anyone with an interest in Clan Donald, and in particular anyone at all familiar with Moidart and its surrounds.… (mais)