author
James Simson
b. 1826
Best known for writing about Scottish Gypsies, John Bunyan, and the naturalist Charles Waterton, this 19th-century Scottish writer also left a vivid firsthand account of childhood life at a lazaretto in Inverkeithing. His books mix curiosity, close observation, and a strong sense of place.
2 Audiobooks
John Bunyan and the Gipsies
by James Simson
Was John Bunyan a Gipsy?
by James Simson
About the author
Born in 1826, he was a Scottish author whose work ranged across history, religion, biography, and local memory. He is especially associated with writing on Scottish Gypsies, with studies connected to John Bunyan, and with a biography of Charles Waterton.
One of his most distinctive books is Reminiscences of Childhood at Inverkeithing; or, Life at a Lazaretto, a firsthand recollection that gives readers a rare glimpse of early life in Fife. That mix of personal memory and documentary interest helps explain why his writing still feels valuable today.
Although not a widely known literary figure now, his books preserve unusual corners of Scottish social and cultural history. For listeners who enjoy older nonfiction with strong character and atmosphere, his work offers both period detail and an individual point of view.