Angus Peter Campbell
Encyclopedia
Angus Peter Campbell is a Scottish award-winning poet, novelist, journalist, broadcaster and actor.
, where he developed a keen interest in literature under the expert guidance and encouragement of his English teacher, the late Iain Crichton Smith
. The University of Edinburgh
beckoned, where he obtained an Honours degree
in History and Politics, and continued his literary education through the encouragement of the late Sorley MacLean
, who was writer-in-residence in Edinburgh
at the time.
His first English language
work of fiction, Invisible Islands (ISBN 0-9552283-0-1), was published in 2006. It was inspired by Italo Calvino
and Jorge Luis Borges
. The book consists of twenty-one chapters, each illuminating a specific island in the mythic Invisible Islands archipelago
. The work draws heavily on Gaelic culture and history, magic realism
and a number of other influences.. He also wrote a short English language novel 'Archie and The North Wind' (Luath Press)(2010).
He received the Bardic Crown and a Creative Scotland Award in 2001. In 2006 Campbell expanded his acting career, starring in the Scottish Gaelic feature film Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle
.
Early life
After attending Gearradh na Monadh school, Campbell left Uist for secondary school in ObanOban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
, where he developed a keen interest in literature under the expert guidance and encouragement of his English teacher, the late Iain Crichton Smith
Iain Crichton Smith
Iain Crichton Smith was a Scottish man of letters, writing in both English and Scottish Gaelic, and a prolific author in both languages...
. The University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
beckoned, where he obtained an Honours degree
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in History and Politics, and continued his literary education through the encouragement of the late Sorley MacLean
Sorley MacLean
Sorley MacLean was one of the most significant Scottish poets of the 20th century.-Early life:He was born at Osgaig on the island of Raasay on 26 October 1911, where Scottish Gaelic was the first language. He attended the University of Edinburgh and was an avid shinty player playing for the...
, who was writer-in-residence in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
at the time.
Career
Born and brought up in South Uist he spent his teenage years in the Oban area where he was taught by Iain Crichton Smith at the local High School. He graduated with Double Honours in Politics and History from Edinburgh University, after which he worked in the media. In 2001 he was awarded the Bardic Crown for Gaelic poetry. The following year he was given a Creative Scotland Award for Literature. His novel, An Oidhche Mus do Sheòl Sinn, was voted by the public into the Top Ten of the 100 Best-Ever Books from Scotland in the Orange/List Awards.“I have no doubts that Angus Peter Campbell is one of the few really significant living poets in Scotland, writing in any language.” Sorley MacLean (West Highland Free Press, October 1992)
His first English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
work of fiction, Invisible Islands (ISBN 0-9552283-0-1), was published in 2006. It was inspired by Italo Calvino
Italo Calvino
Italo Calvino was an Italian journalist and writer of short stories and novels. His best known works include the Our Ancestors trilogy , the Cosmicomics collection of short stories , and the novels Invisible Cities and If on a winter's night a traveler .Lionised in Britain and the United States,...
and Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
. The book consists of twenty-one chapters, each illuminating a specific island in the mythic Invisible Islands archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
. The work draws heavily on Gaelic culture and history, magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
and a number of other influences.. He also wrote a short English language novel 'Archie and The North Wind' (Luath Press)(2010).
He received the Bardic Crown and a Creative Scotland Award in 2001. In 2006 Campbell expanded his acting career, starring in the Scottish Gaelic feature film Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle
Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle
Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle is a 2007 Scottish Gaelic feature film by first-time director, Simon Miller from a story by Simon Miller and Joanne Cockwell...
.
Personal life
He lives on the Isle of Skye with his wife and six children, and is now a full time writer/journalist/broadcaster/actor. His latest work is a collection of poetry, Aibisidh, published Polygon (Edinburgh) in 2011.External links
- Angus Peter Campbell official website
- Brave new words - November 2003 interview by Highlands and Islands Arts Journal
- Invisible Islands revealed - August 2006 Angus Peter Campbell interview