The Shepherd's Calendar. Volume I (of II)

The volume gathers a dozen short tales steeped in the rugged scenery of the Scottish Borders, where snow‑bound hills and bleak moors become characters in their own right. With a tone that swings between grim realism and a wry, almost supernatural edge, the stories reveal the daily hardships and hidden superstitions of shepherds, farmers and curious travellers.

In the opening piece, a veteran shepherd battles a relentless winter while confronting his own theology of reward and punishment, his dialogue with his wife a blend of dialect and dark humor. Other entries promise a prodigal son’s reckoning, a school where misfortune teaches its pupils, and an expedition that teeters on the brink of hell itself, each offering a compact mix of suspense, moral questioning and vivid, period dialogue.

Listeners will find the language textured, the pacing brisk, and the moral undertones as stark as the snow‑capped peaks that frame them, making this collection a compelling glimpse into 19th‑century Scottish storytelling. Each story stands alone, yet together they weave a portrait of a land where nature and belief intersect in striking clarity.