O CHOILLE GU BEARRADH / FROM WOOD TO RIDGE: Collected Poems in Gaelic and English.

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author, inscribed presentation copy. Original black cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the Stephen Raw designed dustwrapper. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. A touch of pushing to tips and corners, a light bump to the upper edge of the front panel, faint offsetting to free endpapers. In the dustwrapper, fine except for a touch of rubbing to tips and corners. Loosely laid in publisher's compliments slip with the typed name of Carcanet founder (and poet), Michael Schmidt. Not price-clipped (£18.95 to the front flap). An attractive copy.

Inscribed in Gaelic by Sorley Maclean in black ink to the front free endpaper, "do / Audrey MacNeacail / Somhairle MacGill-Eain / 6.3.90"; the recipient may be related to the Scots-Gaelic poet, Aonghas MacNeacail (1942-2022). 'O Choille gu Bearradh / From Wood to Ridge' was the only 'Collected' volume MacLean (1911-1996) published during his lifetime. With a preface by the author and brief notes at the end of the book, the poems are presented throughout in parallel text, the original Gaelic and the poet's own English translations printed on facing pages. MacLean is now recognised as the most significant writer in Scottish Gaelic of the twentieth century, but the richness of the poems exceeds the bounds of nation or first language. "It is often late, by chance, and with sudden delight, that we find those poets who later become vital to us [...] I knew Sorley MacLean by reputation before I felt his authoriity [...] what was unlooked for has grown indispensable" (Seamus Heaney); "One of the very greatest of the Gaelic poets [...] and one of the great love poets of the world" (Iain Crichton Smith).