Inventory Dep.209 Neil M Gunn LL.D - National Library of Scotland

National Library of Scotland 

Manuscripts Division 

George IV Bridge 

Edinburgh 

EH1 1EW 

Tel: 0131-466 2812 

Fax: 0131-466 2811 

E-mail: manuscripts@nls.uk 

Inventory 

Dep.209 

Neil M Gunn LL.D 

© Trustees of the National Library of Scotland

The papers of Neil M Gunn LL.D. 

Deposited, 1973. 

BOX 1 

1. Seven notebooks containing drafts of letters, articles and addresses ca. 1953-1970. 

2. Notebook comprising a diary for July-September 1939, with comments on current 

events. 

3. Notebook comprising (at one end) a diary for October 21 st - 27 th 1931, and (at the 

other end), notes and quotations from books read. 

4. Notebook containing (at one end) notes on the British Herring Fishing Company, 

Gaelic proverbs, a bibliography of the North-east coast, and (at the other end) 

notes and quotations from books read. 

5. Five notebooks containing notes and quotations from books read. 

6. Notebook containing notes on the Gaelic language and passages in Gaelic. 

7. Notebook containing notes on the Isle of Eigg, Lismore, Iona, St Columba, and 

also on geology. 

8. Notebook containing notes on the history of whisky distilling. 

9. Two notebooks, 1939, containing corrected manuscript drafts of “To the West”, 

“Across the Minch”, “In Stornoway”, “On Bernera” and “To the Flannan Isles”. 

10. Address Book. 

11. Notes and leaflets relating to a journey in Denmark. 

12. Two notebooks, one 1937, containing manuscript notes and drafts for “Off in a 

Boat”, and the other containing excerpts from the Log Book of the “Maggie” of 

Wick, (1873). 

BOX 2 

1. Typescript of “The Atom of Delight”. 

2. Two copies of corrected page-proofs of “The Atom of Delight”. 

BOX 3

1. Cuttings of reviews of “The Green Isle of the Great Deep” from German, Austrian 

and Swiss newspapers and periodicals, (1949-51). 

2. Cuttings of reviews of “The Well at the World’s End” from German, Austrian and 

Swiss newspapers and periodicals, (1955-56). 

3. a. Script of a radio talk, written and read by Stewart Conn on Gunn’s “The 

Well at the World’s End”. 

b. Printed copy of an article by John J Graham, “The Novels of Neil Gunn”, 

(1948) 

c. Article in “The Press and Journal”, March 7, 1970, by Cuthbert Graham 

“Neil Gunn: Novelist of Highlands”. 

4. Article in “Scottish International Review” May 1972, “Neil M Gunn’s Fiction of 

Delight”, by Douglas Gifford, (with letter attached from Robert Tait). 

5. Article by Francis R Hart, “The Hunter and the Circle: Neil Gunn’s Fiction of 

Violence”. 

(1 complete, 3 incomplete typescripts). 

6. Article by Francis R Hart, “Poachers in Paradise: Neil Gunn’s Green Isle and the 

Literary Evaluation of Utopia”. 

(Two (slightly different) typescripts). 

7. Corrected proof-copy of “Neil M Gunn: A Brief Memoir” (1972) by Francis R 

Hart. 

8. “Scott, Gunn, and the Scottish Novelist’s Sense of the Past” by F R Hart - July 

1967. 

(Typescript). 

9. “The Faces of Regionalism in Recent Scottish Fiction”: typescript of a lecture by 

F R Hart. (October 1966). 

10. Typescript of a radio broadcast on Neil Gunn (1967) given by Neil Paterson, and 

several letters concerning the broadcast. 

11. “A Tribute to Neil M Gunn”, by J B Pick, (The Scots Review, November 1949). 

12. “Neil M Gunn. A Man From the Grey Coast” by Edward Scouller (Scottish Field, 

June, 1950). 

13. a. Anonymous article, “Neil M Gunn” (Scots Review, February 1948).

. Anonymous article, “The Furthest North Nationalist, Mr Neil Gunn” 

(Daily Record, 11 January 1929). 

c. Manuscripts synopsis of Gunn’s life and works by Alfred Kroner, and 

review of “The Well at the World’s End”, (May 30 th , 1956). 

d. Review of article by Gunn entitled “Scotland” which appeared in 

“Holiday”, December 1950. 

Typescript (see Box 9, no.139). 

14. a. Review of “Morning Tide”, anonymous and undated. 

b. Extract from an essay on Hugh MacDiarmid and Neil Gunn sent to Gunn, 

August 31 st , 1932. 

c. “Thought for the Day”, radio broadcast, December 23 rd 1971, with 

references to Neil Gunn’s “Highland River” and “Morning Tide”. 

15. a. Review of “Butcher’s Broom”. 

BOX 4 

Short Stories 

b. Review, in “The Modern Scot”, (n.d.) and publicity handout, of “Morning 

Tide”. 

c. Review, in “The Book Society News”, January, 1931, of “Morning Tide”. 

1. “An Adventure in Jealousy”. 

Two printed copies, one with manuscript corrections, the other incomplete 

(Northern Review, August 1924). 

2. “The Apple-Tree”. 

(The Apple-Tree, June 1918). Printed copy. 

3. “Between Highlands”. 

(Northern Review, September 1924). Printed copy. 

4. “Birdsong at Evening”. 

Two printed copies, one with manuscript corrections and insertions. 

5. “The Black Woollen Gloves”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.8, January 1928, pp.261-8). 

6. “The Boat”.

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.28, December 1937, pp.186-194). 

7. “The Canine Gaff”. 

Printed copy. 

8. “The Circle”. 

Corrected printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.16, January 1932, pp.241- 

255). 

9. “Community Drama”. 

(Outlook, April 1936). Printed copy. 

10. “Countryman at the Play”. 

Printed copy. (Glasgow Herald, December 13 th 1952). 

11. “Dancing in the Wilds”. 

Corrected manuscript. 

12. “The Dead Seaman”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.15, July 1931, pp.265-289). 

13. “Down to the Sea”. 

(The Scottish Nation, September 4 th 1923). Two printed copies, one incomplete. 

14. “The Face in the Pool”. 

Typescript, n.d. 

15. “Footsteps in the Corridor”. 


16. “George and the Dragon”. 

(The Scots Review, vol.21, June 1934, pp.188-207). Printed copy. 

17. “The Golden Age”. 

(News Chronicle, October 12 1935). Two printed copies. 

18. “The Gramophone”. 

(The Scottish Nation, November 13 1923). Two printed copies. 

19. “The Hat-Box”. 

(Glasgow Herald, October 13 1923). Printed copy. 

20. “Henry Drake Goes Home”. 

(Chamber’s Journal, March, no.569). Printed copy. 

21. “Highland Hospitality”.

One corrected typescript and one printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.22, 

December 1934, pp.199-201). 

22. “The Hind”. 

One corrected typescript and one printed copy. (The Scottish Nation, December 

11 th 1923). 

23. “Joe and the Monster”. 

Typescript. (similar theme to “George and the Dragon” - see no.16). 

24. “Islands and Seas”. 

(Chambers’s Journal, n.d.) Printed copy. 

25. “The Lady’s Hand-bag”. 

(S.M.T. Magazine, August 1939). Printed copy. 

26. “The Man who Came Back”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.8, March 19287, pp.419-429) and 

fragment of typescript. 

27. “The Old Man” 


28. “The Poster”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.25, August 1936, pp.346-368). 

29. “Presents for their Wives”. 

Two typescripts, n.d. 

30. “The Primrose Path”. 


31. “Puppets”. 

(S.M.T. Magazine, n.d.) Printed copy. 

32. “Pure Chance”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.42, March 1945, pp.452-468). Incomplete, corrected 

printed copy. 

33. “Revival Meeting”. 

Corrected typescript and corrected printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vik,32, 

January 1940, pp.273-9). 

34. “Revolution in the Highlands”. 

Typescript, n.d.

35. “Ride the Gale”. 

Printed copy. (The Saturday Evening Post, December, 1950). 

36. “The Roaring Game”. 


37. “A Romance of the Reel”. 

(Chamber’s Journal, August 15, 1925). Printed copy. 

38. “Sea Tangle”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.14, December 1930, pp.207-215). 

39. “The Secret of the Wood”. 

(“From Nature’s Note Book”, July 1929). Printed copy. 

40. “The Sleeping Bins”. 

Printed copy, n.d. 

41. “Snow in March”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.29, June 1938, pp.191-9). Printed copy. 

42. “The Storm”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.22, February 1935, pp.349-357). Printed copy. (Theme 

similar to “Ride the Gale” - see no.35. 

43. “Strath Ruins”. 

(Chambers’s Journal, September 3, 1927). Printed copy. 

44. “Such Stuff as Dreams”. 

(The Dublin Magazine, n.d. Printed copy. 

45. “Sun and Moon”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.35, November 1942, pp.83-99). 

46. “Surfaces”. 

(The Scottish Nation, August 7, 1923). Printed copy. 

47. “The Terrible Ally”. 

Typescript. (? incomplete). 

48. “A Tight Corner”. 

(The Glasgow Herald, October 20, 1923). Printed copy. 

49. “The Tragic Goat”. 

(The Glasgow Herald, February 10, 1940). Printed copy.

50. “Visioning”. 

(The Scottish Nation, July 24, 1923). Printed copy. 

51. “When Half-Way is all the Way”. 


52. “Whisky”. 


BOX 5 

Plays, Dramatisations and Films 

1. “All in a Lifetime”. 

BBC script, 1957. (Schools broadcast). 

2. “The Ancient Fire”. 

A three-act play. Three corrected typescripts. Two of one version, one of 

another, and several odd pages of script. 

3. “Beyond the Cage”. 

A three-act comedy. Two typescripts. Four printed copies. (A play with similar 

cast and theme as “The Ancient Fire”). One of the printed copies contains a 

photograph of the set, a theatre programme (1952) and notes concerning lighting. 

4. “The Black Woollen Gloves”. 

One corrected typescript. One BBC script (February, 1944). 

5. “Blueprint for the Highlands”. 

Corrected film script (May 1943). 

6. “The Boy and the Salmon”. 

BBC script (May 1957). 

7. “The Bridge Builder”. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.32, November 1939, pp.101-116). A One-Act Play. - 

Printed copy. 

8. “Choosing a Play”. 

Printed copy - one-act play. 

(The Scots Magazine, vol.23, May 1935, pp.99-112; published separately by 

Porpoise Press in 1938 as a re-issue from Scottish One-Act Plays ed J M Reid, 

Porpoise Press, 1935).

BOX 6 

Plays - continued 

9. “Deer Stalking”. 

BBC script (November, 1957). (Schools broadcast). 

10. “Drama in Lewis”. 

Corrected typescript. 

11. “Glendaruel”. 

A one-act play. One printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.12, December 1929, 

pp.177-187). One corrected typescript. 

12. “Good News Comes to the Glen”. 

BBC script (November, 1957). Schools broadcast. 

13. “Hail, Caledonia”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.29, May 1938, pp.113-122). 

14. “The Hawk’s Feather”. 

A one-act play. One printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.11, August 1929, 

pp.328-40) and one typescript. 

15. “The Highland Clearances”. 

Two BBC scripts (December 1954).

16. “Highland Prospect”. 

BBC script (October, 1942). 

17. “The Land We Defend: The Western Highlands and Islands”. 

Two BBC scripts, (n.d.) 

18. “Lewis in War-Time” or “Lewis Today”. 

Two BBC scripts. [with letter to Neil Gunn (17 th December, 1941) from Moultrie 

R Kelsall of the BBC, and press-cutting concerning the above]. 

19. “The Northern Highlands Today”. 

Typescript. (This is the same script as “Highland Prospect”). 

20. “Old Highland Ballet”. 


21. “Old Music”. 

One-act play, printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.23, July 1935, pp.254-266, 

published separately by Nelson in 1939 as Nelson’s Plays for Amateurs: 2 and 

reprinted in North Light: Ten New One-Act Plays from the North compiled by 

Winifred Barrister and published by Maclellan in Glasgow in 1947). 

22. “The Sea to the Isles”. 

One-act play. Typescript, n.d. 

23. “Second Sight”. 

Three-act play. Two typescripts, n.d. 

BOX 7 

Plays - continued 

24. “Sun and Moon”. 

Two corrected typescripts, n.d. 

25. “The Water of Life”. 

Four copies of film-script (with letter dated April 10 th , 1958, and copy of contract 

concerning above). One typescript of “Story outline”. 


Two BBC scripts (1954). One typescript and odd pages.

Poems 

1. “The Serpent”. 

Printed copy. 

2. “Sub Rosa”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.10, December 1923, p.172). 

3. “To W H Hudson”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.11, May 1929, p.102). 

4. “Vitality”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots magazine, vol.16, November 1931, p.122). 

Miscellaneous notes and odd pages of script 

a. Manuscript notes for an unidentified play. 

b. Odd pages from typescript of an unidentified play. 

BOX 8 

Articles and Reviews 

1. “Above the Highland Line”. 

Printed copy - undated. (Commissioned by the Scottish Tourist Board). 

2. “Across Kylescu”. 

One typescript and one printed copy (undated). 

3. “An Affair of Whisky”. 

Printed copy (New Saltire, no.6, December, 1962). 

4. “Among the Lambs”. 

Incomplete printed copy, (The Scots Magazine, vol.35, June 1941, pp.180-4). 

5. “And The Rains Come”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.33, September 1940, pp.445-8). 

6. “An Then Rebuild It”. 


7. “As Drunk as a Bavarian”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.31, April 1939, pp.30-5). 

8. “Autumn in the Cuillin”.


9. “Awakening of a Nation”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, December 27, 1944). 

10. “A Balance Sheet”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.34, January 1941, pp.258-62). 

11. “Balmoral”. 

Typescript (undated). 

12. “Balmoral: Hunting in the Highlands”. 

Typescript in two parts (Part 1 - pages 15-19, and 23-26 are missing). 

13. “The Black Isle”. 

Typescript, with copy of letter of Miss Spence, dated August 24, 1961, 

concerning the article. 

14. “Books: Neil Gunn talks about some old Scots Books”. 

Undated printed copy. 

15. “Boy, What are your Dreams”. 

Printed copy (The B B Bulletin, September 6, 1933). 

16. “By Pastures Green”. 

Corrected typescript, n.d. 

17. “Caithness”. 

Typescript (sent 20/3/56 to “County Fair”). 

18. Review of Robin Jenkins, “The Changeling”, by Neil Gunn. 

Corrected typescript with discussion points, n.d. 

19. “The Clans of Scotland”. 

Printed copy (Holiday, September, 1954). 

20. “Close Bosom Friend of the Maturing Sun”. 

Incomplete printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.34, October 1940, pp.14-18). 

21. “The County Behind the Camerons”. 


22. “A Crick in the Back: Bookshelf Soliloquy”. 

Printed copy (Glasgow Herald, October 5, 1940). 

23. “Curling”.


24. “Deer Stalking in the Highlands”. 


25. “Doom in the Moray Firth”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.24, October 1935, pp.24-7). 

26. “The Dornoch Firth”. 

Typescript (published in Scotland’s Magazine, October, 1960). 

27. “Drains for the Kraal”. 

Printed copy (Glasgow Herald, January 4, 1941). 

28. “The Dunbeath Coast”. 

Printed copy – undated. 

29. “East of Buchan”. 


30. “Edinburgh”. 

Two typescript articles with two copies of letters to Carl Brandt (1947), and odd 

pages of script. 

31. “Eire: How Dublin Received the New Constitution”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.28, February 1938, pp.340-344). 

32. “Elements of Nationality”. 

Two typescripts, one incomplete, n.d. 

33. “The Essence of Nationalism”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.37, June 1942, pp.169-172). 

34. “The Evil Eye”. 

Printed copy (The Saltire Review, Spring, 1956). 

35. “Exciting Horizons”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, September 15, 1944). 

36. “Falconry: A Day with the Hawks”. 

Printed copy (Chambers’s Journal, n.d.) 

37. “The Family Boat”. 


38. “The Ferry of the Dead”.


39. “A Field of Oats”. 


40. “Filming the Silver Darlings”. 


41. “The First Salmon”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.29, April 1938, pp.17-20). 

42. “The Fishermen of the North-East”. 

Printed copy (Scotland, Autumn, 1938). 

43. “Fishing”. 


44. “Fishing Lochs of Day and Night”. 


45. “For Christopher’s Cap”. 


46. Foreword to “Fishermen and Fishing Ways” by Peter Anson. 

(Sent to Anson 22.6.62). Typescript. 

47. “Free Fishing”. 

Printed copy (S.M.T. Magazine, October 1935). 

48. “The French Smack”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.33, August 1940, pp.366-370). 

49. “From a Highland Notebook”. 

Three parts, printed copies (The Scots Magazine, March, April and May, 1940). 

50. “The Gael Demands That the Croft Survives”. 


51. “The Gael Will Come Again”. 


52. “The Gathering of the Camerons”. 


53. “Gentlemen – The Tourist! : The New Highland Toast”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.26, March 1937, pp.410-415).

54. “Giants and Distant Bells”. 

Printed copy (Glasgow Herald, February 18, 1950) and one page of typescript. 

55. “Glen Affric Hydro-Electric Scheme”. 


56. “The Golden Age”. 


57. “The Great Glen”. 


58. “The Health Service We Want”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, August 31, 1944). 

59. “The Herring Industry: Debt and Decline of the Scottish Fisheries”. 

Printed copy (Glasgow Herald, May 7, 1940). 

60. “The Hidden Heart”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.9, August 1928, pp.331-5). 

61. “Highland Games”. 

Printed copy: introduction to programme for Hertfordshire Highland Games, June 

13, 1953. 

62. “High on the Haggis”. 

Printed copy (Holiday, November, 1959). 

63. “High Summer by a Mountain Lochan”. 

Printed copy (Scotland’s Magazine, June, 1960). 

64. “The Highland Clearances”. 

Typescript (published in the Radio Times, November 24, 1954). 

65. “Highland Pot Still Malt Whisky”. 


66. “The Highland Exhibition at Inverness”. 

Printed copy (S.M.T. Magazine, n.d.) 

67. “The Highlands”. 

Typescript and printed copy, n.d. 

68. “Highlands and Islands”. 

Typescript, n.d.

69. “The Highlands of Scotland”. 

Typescript (English and proof copy (German)) (published in “Merian” June 4, 

1962), with correspondence concerning the article. 

70. “Highland Space”. 

Typescript, n.d. (Saltire Review, vol.6, Winter 1961, no.23, pp.45-8). 

71. “The Highlands Today”. 


72. “Himmler Puts it a New Way”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, October 13 1944). 

73. “History Heard to Laugh”. 

Printed copy (Glasgow Herald, December 24, 1949). 

74. “Hugh MacDiarmid”. 

Typescript and corrected proof copy (5.7.62). 

75. “Hunting with Hawks”. 


BOX 9 

Articles – continued 

76. “Incidents by the Way”. 


77. “The Inner Man”. 

Printed copy, (Scotland, n.d.) 

78. “Inverness”. 

Corrected typescript, and proof copy (published in Weekend Magazine, n.d.) 

79. “Inverness and the Highlands”. 


80. “Inverness Pipe Bands in Action”. 


81. “It’s Better than Ever”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, January 19, 1949). 

82. “Iona”.


83. “Is there a living Scottish tradition in writing today?” 


84. “I’ve Got My Threepenny Bit yet ___”. 

Printed copy (Daily Express, n.d.) 

85. “John O’Groat’s”. 

Printed copy (Chambers’s Journal, January 10, 1925). 

86. “A League of Fishermen”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, September 7, 1944). 

87. “Literary Retrospect”. 


88. “Literature: Class or National?” 

Printed copy (Outlook, July, 1936). (2 copies). 

89. “Literature and the Arts”. 


90. “Living in Scotland Today”. 

Typescript and printed copy (Scottish Field, February, 1956). 

91. “Living in the Free Sunlight”. 


92. “Loch A’an”. 

Typescript, 1960 (cf. Box.8, no.63). 

93. “London’s Eternal Priority”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, February 9, 1945). 

94. “Malt Whikies”. 


95. “The Miraculous”. 


96. “Miss Margaret MacDougall”. 

Typescript (2 copies), n.d. 

97. “The Month in Scotland”. 

Printed copy (Scottish Field, September 1945).

98. “The Moral of the Midge”. 

Two printed copies (Daily Record, October 18, 1944). 

99. “More Fishing Lochs - and a Feast”! 


100. “My Best Day’s Fishing”. 

Printed copy. (The Scots Magazine, vol.10, January 1929, pp.260-1). 

101. “My Bit of Britain”. 

Printed copy (The Field, August 2, 1941). 

102. “The Myth of the Canny Scot”. 


103. “The Myth of the Gloomy Scot”. 


104. “Nationalism in Writing: Tradition and Magic in the work of Lewis Grassic 

Gibbon”. 


105. “Nationalism in Writing: The Theatre Society of Scotland”. 


106. “New Charter Behind ‘IFS’”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, August 22, 1944). 

107. “The New Community of Iona”. 


108. “New Golden Age for Scots Letters”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record and Mail, May 28, 1930). 

109. “A Northern Night”. 

Printed copy (Chambers’s Journal, n.d.) 

110. “Note on the Basking Shark”. 


111. “The Novel at Home”. 

Printed copy (The Writer, June, 1946 also appeared in The Scots Magazine, 

vol.45, April 1946, pp.1-5). 

112. “The Obvious”.

Manuscript, n.d. 

113. “Off in the Car”. 


114. “Off to Ullapool”. 


115. “On Backgrounds”. 


116. “On Belief”. 


117. “On Looking at Things”. 


118. “On Magic”. 


119. “On Tradition”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.34, November 1940, pp.131-4). 

120. “One Fisher Went Sailing … the Plight of the West Coast Herring Ports”. 


121. “The One Who Will Come”. 

Typescript and manuscript, n.d. 

122. “Over the Ord of Caithness”. 


123. “Over the Sea to Skye”. 


124. “The Peaceful Black Isle”. 

Typescript and printed copy (Scotland’s Magazine, October, 1961). 

125. “Pict’s Houses”. 


126. “Pigs and Whistles”. 


127. “Planners and People”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, October 5, 1944).

128. “Poaching”. 


129. “Power, Pride and Prejudice”. 


130. “Prescriptions”. 

Typescript (sent to the Editor of ‘Medical World’, 8:11:55). 

131. “President of Eire. The True Value of Tradition”. 


132. “The Pursuit of Light”. 


133. “Questions for Scots”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, November 24, 1944). 

134. “Reaches of the Connon”. 


135. “Red Deer in Scotland”. 


136. “Remember Yourself”. 

Printed copy, (Saltire Review, Spring 1959). 

137. “Revolution in the Highlands”. 


138. “Round the Black Isle”. 


139. “Scotland”. 

Printed copy (Holiday, December, 1950). 

140. “Scotland Moves”. 


141. “Scotland North”. 

Printed copy (Scotland, Winter, 1937). 

142. “Scots Arc Critical Too Soon”. 

Printed copy (Daily Record, November 3, 1944).

143. “Scots Welcome”. 

Printed copy (Scottish Field, March, 1938). 

144. “The Scottish Clans”. 


145. “Scottish Food”. 

Typescript (sent to Brandt on October 4, 1958). 

146. “The Scottish Renascence”. 


147. “Secret Session”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, July 1940). 

148. “The Shieling and the Bothy”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine), vol.36, 2 March 1947, pp.457-460). 

149. “The Shoelace and the Salmon”. 

Printed copy (Scotland’s Magazine, n.d.). 

150. “A Stoicism that Takes a Lot of Breaking”. 

Printed copy (London Calling, n.d.). 

151. “The Strath of Kildonan”. 


152. “The Straths and Sea-Roads of the North-East from Inverness to John O’Groats”. 

Printed copy (S.M.T. Magazine, n.d.). 

153. “Summer Adventures in Western Waters”. 

Printed copy (S.M.T. Magazine, January, 1938). 

154. “Surveying the Highlands”. 


155. “To Loch Torridon: Summer Pilgrimage in a Land of Marvel”. 


156. “The Torranan Rocks”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.28, January 1938, pp.275-286 (Off in a 

Boat)). 

157. “Towards Cape Wrath”. 

Typescript and incomplete printed copy, n.d.

158. “Town Planning in the Scottish Highlands”. 

Printed copy (Town and Country Planning, n.d.). 

159. “University in Inverness”. 


160. “Uisgebeatha”. 

(introductory chapter to “Whisky and Scotland”). Printed copy (The Scots 

Magazine, vol.23, August 1935, pp.327-333). 

161. “A Visitor from Denmark”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, vol.27, May 1937, pp.96-101). 

162. “Wayfaring Memories of 1938”. 

Printed copy (S.M.T. Magazine, January 1939). 

163. “The Western Isles”. 


164. “What Scotland Offers the Holiday-Maker”. 

Printed copy (S.M.T. Magazine, July, 1937). 

165. “When I Go Fishing”. 

Typescript and printed copy (Trout and Salmon, August, 1955). 

166. “Where We Stand”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Magazine, October 1939). 



168. “Whisky and Scotland”. 


169. “White Fishing on the Caithness Coast”. 

Printed copy (Chambers’s Journal, n.d.). 

170. “Wild Swans”. 

Printed copy (The Scots Review, April, 1950). 

171. “William Soutar”. 


172. “Woman’s Viewpoint”. 

Typescript with manuscript additions, n.d.

173. “The Wonder Story of the Moray Firth”. 

Typescript, n.d. (Anarchy 86, vol.88, no.4, April 1968, pp.122-5). 

BOX 10 

Broadcast Talks and Interviews 

1. Reviews 

a. Review of “The Brave White Flag” by James Allan Ford, (broadcast in the 

Scottish Home Service, July 19, 1961). Typescript and BBC script. 

b. Review of “The Changeling” by Robin Jenkins, (broadcast in the Scottish Home 

Service, April 30, 1958) BBC script. 

c. Review of “A Common Grace” by Norman MacCaig. Typescript, n.d. 

d. Review of “The Highlands” by Calum L Maclean (broadcast in the Scottish Home 

Service, June 24, 1959). Typescript and BBC script. 

e. Review of “The Trossachs and the Rob Roy Country” by Campbell Nairns, 

(broadcast in the Scottish Home Service, June 21, 1961). Typescript and BBC 

script. 

2. Interviews 

a. Interview with George Bruce. (BBC “Arts Review”). Corrected typescript, n.d. 

b. Interview with Maurice Lindsay (for television broadcast). Corrected typescript, 

n.d. 

c. Interview with George Bruce (for film on Neil Gunn). Corrected typescript, 

1972. 

d. Interview with BBC entitled “The Novel” (in two parts). Corrected typescript, 

n.d. 

e. Interview with George Bruce concerning novels by Neil Gunn. Corrected 

manuscript, n.d. 

f. Notes for an interview with Deirdre Macdonald for “Radio Times”. Typescript, 

n.d. 

g. Two extracts from interview with George Bruce (BBC Radio 4). Typescript, n.d.

h. “Conversation with a Novelist”: an edited version of two conversations between 

Neil Gunn and Maurice Lindsay, recorded by the BBC in October 1959 and May 

1960. Printed copy (Scottish Field, May, 1961), and incomplete typescript. 

i. Interview given by Neil Gunn on Scottish Literature. Typescript (2), n.d. 

j. Interview given by Neil Gunn on salmon fishing. Typescript, n.d. 

k. Interview entitled “Renaissance”. Typescript, n.d. 

3. Broadcast Talks 

a. “Arts Review”. Corrected typescript, n.d. 

b. “George Blake”. Two corrected typescripts (with letter from George Bruce 

concerning the broadcast, dated October 9, 1961). 

c. “Introducing Life and Letters”. Corrected typescript, n.d. 

d. “Iona”. Corrected typescript (BBC, May 1959). 

e. “Landscape Inside” (Thoughts from an unscripted BBC talk with George Bruce). 


f. “Letter to Rev Dr R F V Scott from Neil Gunn” (‘Letters from Scotland’ Series). 

BBC script, November 30, 1955. 

g. “Life in the Highlands”. (BBC Overseas Programme). Corrected typescript, n.d. 

h. Untitled BBC talk given by Neil Gunn on the Highland way of life. Corrected 

typescript, May 15, 1964. 

i. Untitled talk given by Neil Gunn on the introduction of a new VHF Service for 

Caithness and the Orkneys. Typescript, n.d. 

Addresses, talks and speeches 

a. Speech written for the opening of the University Grants Committee Conference, 

May, 1964. 

b. Address given by Neil Gunn on the occasion of receiving an unspecified tribute. 

Corrected typescript entitled “Portrait”, n.d. 

c. Copy of a speech given on the occasion of Gunn’s receiving his honorary degree, 

(LLD). Typescript, n.d.

d. Address given by Gunn on Scotland. Typescript, n.d. 

e. Address given by Gunn on the Scottish Tradition. Typescript, n.d. 

Adaptations of novels by Neil Gunn 

1. “The Drinking Well”, adapted by John Wilson. (‘Annals of Scotland’ series). 

BBC script, broadcast December 3, 1956). 

2. The Green Isle of the Great Deep, adapted by John Keir Cross (2 parts). BBC 

script, broadcast 1965. 

3. Morning Tide. Screenplay by Gilbert Gunn. Shooting script (January 3, 1952). 

4. The Well at the World’s End adapted by Alexander Reid. (3 parts). BBC script, 

broadcast 1970. (Letter attached from Stewart Conn, producer, concerning the 

broadcast, dated 13 th January, 1970). 

BOX 11 

Correspondence with book publishers: 

1. Brandt and Brandt, 1942-62. 

2. Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1925-30. 

3. Cedric Chivers Ltd, 1964-70. 

4. Club Leabhar (Highland Book Club), 1967-72. 

5. Faber & Faber Ltd, 1930-71. 

BOX 12 

1. Linnet & Dunfee Ltd, 1946-54. 

2. Porpoise Press, 1926-33. 

3. George W Stewart, 1946-60. 

4. Dr Fritz Wolcken, 1936-48. 

5. Letters from publishers: 

Arena, 1969 

Ernest Benn Ltd, 1929

Caithness Books, 1971 

Cassell & Co Ltd, 1924 

W&R Chambers, 1928 

Chatto & Windus, 1925 

Andre Deutsch, 1969 

W Foulsham & Co, 1955 

Philip Gee, 1952 

Harcourt, Brace & Co, 1931 

William Heinemann, 1928 

Hodder & Stoughton, 1929 

Hutchinson, 1959 

Michael Joseph Ltd, 1939 

Little, Brown & Co, 1926 

Longmans, Green & Co, 1964 

McGraw-Hill, 1947 

William Maclellan Ltd, 1946 

Macmillan & Co Ltd, 1927 

Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, 1934 

Odhams Press Ltd, 1923 

George Outram, 1961 

Richard Paterson, 1955 

Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1934 

St James Press, 1971 

Scott Hamilton, 1955 

Serif Books, 1948 

Wishart & Co, 1929 

6. Correspondence with The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1928-72. 

7. Correspondence with Wilson Barrett Limited (Royal Lyceum Theatre, 

Edinburgh), 1951-52. 

BOX 13 

1. Correspondence with Seager, Evans Ltd, 1957-66. 

2. Printed and typed items concerning the Tormore Distillery. 

BOX 14 

1. Letters from newspaper publishers: 

Aberdeen Journals Ltd (The Press and Journal), 1947. 

The Daily Record, 1929, 1946, 1949. 

The Evening Citizen, 1948. 

The Glasgow Herald, 1946-56.

The John O’Groat Journal, 1926. 

The Manchester Guardian, 1955. 

North British News Agency, 1929. 

The Scotsman, 1961. 

2. Letters from magazine publishers: 

Akros, 1971. 

Argosy, 1950-2. 

Chambers’s Journal, 1922, 1925. 

The Clarion of Skye, 1956. 

Cornhill Magazine, 1923-5. 

The Dublin Magazine, 1926. 

Everybody’s, 1955. 

Forward, 1948. 

The Geographical Magazine, 1952. 

Holiday, 1948-58. 

The Jabberwock, 1949. 

The Lion Rampant, 1947. 

Medical World, 1955. 

Merian, 1962. 

Modern Reading, 1946. 

The Modern Scot, n.d. 

Ossian, 1961. 

The Saltire Review and The New Saltire, 1957-63. 

The Saturday Evening Post, 1950, 1952. 

Scotland’s Magazine, 1951-62. 

The Scots Magazine, 1927-38, n.d. 

The Scots Observer, 1929. 

The Scots Review, n.d. 

Scottish Field, 1955, 1962. 

The Spectator, 1955. 

The Sphere, 1952-3. 

Sruth, 1967. 

Story Magazine, 1923-4. 

Time, 1954. 

Trout and Salmon, 1955. 

3. Correspondence with film companies: 

Anvil Films (Scotland) Ltd, 1962. 

Associated British Picture Corporation Ltd, 1942-67. 

Ealing Studios Ltd, 1946-8. 

Films of Scotland, 1953-66. 

Highlands and Islands Film Guild, 1946, 1957. 

Holyrood Film Productions, 1942-6.

Rotha Films, 1943. 

Twentieth Century Pictures and Film Productions Ltd, 1933. 

Verity Films Ltd, 1943. 

4. Correspondence with, and literature relating to: 

The Scottish Film Council, 1952-3. 

The Scottish National Ballet, 1960-1. 

The Scottish National Theatre Society Ltd, 1929, 1933. 

5. Correspondence with (and related literature): 

The British Council, 1946-63. 

The Scottish Council (Development and Industry), 1948, 1953, 1965. 

The Scottish Arts Council, 1967-72. 

6. Correspondence with and literature relating to PEN, 1928-69. 

BOX 15 

Correspondence and printed items relating to the National Party of Scotland, the Scottish 

Party, and the Scottish National Party: 

1. 1929-32. 

2. 1933. 

3. 1934-70. 

4. Undated items. 

5. Incomplete items. 

BOX 16 

Crofters’ Commission: 

1. Correspondence, 1951-70. 

2. Reports and minutes, 1950-58. 

3. Reports and minutes, undated.

BOX 17 

Letters from: 

1. Marion Angus, 2 (n.d.) 

James Barke, 10 (1931-8) 

J J Bell, 1 (1931) 

Ellie-Blake, 1 (1971) 

George Blake, 37 (1930-59); 2 (n.d.); 2 (incomplete) 

Gordon Bottomley, 13 (1935-48); 1 (incomplete) 

John Brandane (John MacIntyre), 29 (1928-32) 

2. George Bruce, 30 (1955-72); 1 (incomplete); typescript of poem by George 

Bruce). 

Catherine Carswell, 6 (1931-5) 

Helen B Cruickshank, 8 (1931-71); 1 (n.d.); 1 (incomplete) 

Stanley Cursiter, 15 (1952-72); 2 (n.d.); 1 (incomplete) 

David Daiches, 1 (1955) 

Isobel Daiches, 1 (1957) 

Lawrence Durrell, 1 (n.d.) 

T S Eliot (to Mrs Gunn), 1 (1937) 

J D Fergusson, 3 (1947) 

Lewis Grassic Gibbon, 4 (1934); 1 (n.d.) 

3. C M Grieve (Hugh MacDiarmid), 61 (1922-71); 8 (n.d.) 

Peggy Grieve, 3 (1932) 

Ian Grimble, 39 (1958-72); 7 (n.d.) 

Tyrone Guthrie, 1 (1931) 

BOX 18 

4. Francis Hart, 79 (1961-72); 5 (n.d.); 6 (incomplete); with copies of Gunn’s letters 

to Francis Hart, (1961-71). 

5. Keith Henderson, 18 (1931-72); 7 (n.d.); 5 (incomplete) 

William Jeffrey, 1 (1929); 3 (n.d.) 

Thomas Johnston, 1 (1952) 

Maurice Lindsay, 15 (1946-61); 2 (n.d.) 

Eric Linklater, 7 (1948-54); 4 (n.d.); 1 (incomplete) 

Norman MacCaig, 4 (1950, 1956-7); 1 (n.d.) 

Pittendrigh Macgillivray, 8 (1932); (with copies of Gunn’s letters to and articles 

on Macgillivray) 

Compton Mackenzie, 1 (1931) 

Marian MacNeill, 5 (1954, 1963) 

Magnus Magnusson, 1 (1963); 3 (n.d.) 

O H Mavor (James Bridie), 12 (1930-49)

BOX 19 

Naomi Mitchison, 2 (1953, 1956); 24 (n.d.) 

David Morrison, 1 (1971) 

Edwin Muir, 7 (1932-57) 

Willa Muir, 2 (1931, 1959) 

Ian S Munro, 5 (1960, 1966) 

6. T Nakamura, 95 (1955-72); 15 (incomplete); (with manuscript and typescript 

copies of articles on Gunn by Nakamura). 

7. Neil Paterson, 15 (1953-72); 1 (n.d.); (with typescript of article by Paterson, 

“Some Words About Him”) 

John Pick, 58 (1946-72); 8 (n.d.); 3 (incomplete); (with typed notes on the novels 

of Neil Gunn) 

William Power, 4 (1931-4) 

Alexander Reid, 4 (1958, 1961); 11 (n.d.) 

Nan Shepherd, 17 (1929-71); 3 (incomplete); (with copies of poems by Nan 

Shepherd) 

Iain Crichton Smith, 1 (?1967); (with related Victor Gallancz correspondence) 

Sydney Goodsir Smith, 4 (1957-61) 

BOX 20 

8. G Malcolm Thomson, 70 (1930-34); 8 (n.d.); 1 (incomplete, 1933); (with draft of 

a letter from G Malcolm Thomson to leading English daily newspapers). 

9. Hugh Walpole, 1 (1938) 

Maurice Walsh, 29 (1928-64); 1 (n.d.); 2 (incomplete, 1964) 

Douglas Young, 11 (1938-64); 1 (n.d.) 

BOX 21 

General Correspondence: 

1. 1922-29 

2. 1930-39 

3. 1942-49 

4. 1950-53 

BOX 22 

5. 1954-59

6. 1960-63 

7. 1964-69 

8. 1970-72 

9. undated correspondence 

10. incomplete correspondence (1930-71) 

BOX 23 

Press-Cuttings: 

1. 1922-49 

2. 1950-59 

3. 1960-73 

4. undated 

BOX 24 

Miscellaneous Printed and Typed Items 

1. Articles, extracts and reprints: 

a. “The Experience of Character in the English Gothic Novel’, by Francis Russell 

Hart, (1968). 

b. “A View of Scotland in the Middle of the Eighteenth Century”, by Andrew C 

O’Dell, (1953). 

c. “The Future of the Highlands”, introduction by Ian Grimble. 

d. “Region, Character, and Identity in Recent Scottish Fiction”, by Francis Russell 

Hart, (1967). 

e. “Romantic Recital of Hardships of Red River Colonists who came to Elgin 

County Nearly 100 Years Ago”, (2 copies) (from the St Thomas Daily Times, St 

Thomas, Ontario, January 11 th 1908). 

f. “Johnson as Philosophic Traveler: The Perfecting of an Idea”, by Francis Russell 

Hart, (1969).

g. Extract from “Angling Travels in Norway” – “To Split, Cure, and Smoke 

Salmon”. 

h. “Le Groupe de “La Renaissance Ecossaise””, by Denis Saurat. 

i. “Scott and the Novel in Scotland”. Xerox copy of lecture by Francis R Hart. 

j. “The Novel of the Highlands” unrevised typescript of Chapter Four … by F R 

Hart. 

k. “Is Gaelic Culture Declining?” – appeal by Sir Alexander Macewen, (1933). 

l. Proof copy – “Contemporary Scottish Studies – Neil M Gunn”, by C M Grieve. 

m. “Highland and Island psychiatric reflexions, by Martin M Whittet, (1967). 

n. “Notes on the General Physical Standard of the People of Lewis”, (1934). 

2. Theatre programmes, broadsheets, advertisements, leaflets etc. 

3. Printed and typed copies of songs (by Arthur Geddes) and poems (by Naomi 

Mitchison and others). 

4. Miscellaneous Government and Official publications: 

a. University Development 1957-1962. (University Grants Committee). 

b. Report of the Committee on Post-War Hospital Problems in Scotland, (1943). 

(Department of Health for Scotland). 

c. Land Settlement (Scotland), (draft), Bill, (1919). 

d. Crofters (Scotland) Bill (Amendments), (1955). 

e. North of Scotland Hyrdo-Electric Board: Constructional Scheme no.30 – 

Strathfarrar and Kilmorack Project, (1957). 

BOX 25 

1. Miscellaneous manuscript items. 

2. Miscellaneous typed items. 

3. Miscellaneous printed items.

BOX 26 

Periodicals 

1. The Cambridge Review, April 27, 1957. 

2. The New Alliance and Scots Review, August, 1948; January, 1950; October, 

1950; December, 1950. 

3. The Highland Monthly, December 1889, March, 1890. 

4. The Celtic Magazine, January, July, October-December, 1886, January-June, 

August-October 1887. 

5. The Scottish Nation, May-December 1923. 

6. The Saltire Review, August 1954. 

7. The New Shetlander, March-April 1948. 

BOX 27 (NOT FOR CONSULTATION) 

1. Personal and family correspondence and documents, 1909-72. 

2. Personal items (undated and incomplete). 

3. Letters of sympathy, October-November, 1963. 

BOX 28 (NOT FOR CONSULTATION) 

Papers and documents of Jessie Frew and her father J R Frew. 

BOX 34-48 

These photographs were formerly in boxes 29-33 of Dep 209. These numbers are no 

longer used, and photographs should be ordered using the box and item numbers below. 

The photographs have been sorted into chronological order by Commander Diarmid 

Gunn, Neil Gunn’s nephew. Identification of the content of the photographs has been 

included as far as possible. 

Albums 

34. Frew family album belonging to Daisy Gunn, 1914-20. 

35. Photographs of the Frew family, 1918-?1925.

36. Frew family album belonging to Daisy Gunn, 1920s. 

37. Frew family photographs, and photographs of Neil and Daisy Gunn, 1920s. 

38. Neil and Daisy Gunn, and Larrachan, Inverness, 1920s. 

39. Framed photograph of Mr Frew, Daisy Gunn’s father. 

Loose photographs 

40. 1920s. 

41. 1930s. 

42. Off in a Boat, 1937-8. 

43. 1940s. 

44. 1950s. 

45. 1960s and 1970s. 

46. Visit to Gran Canaria with Neil and Rose Paterson, 1964. 

47. Undated and unidentified photographs, and negatives. 

48. Outsize photographs.

Inventory Dep.209 Neil M Gunn LL.D - National Library of Scotland

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