author
Jessie Margaret Edmondston Saxby
1842–1940
A prolific Shetland writer and folklorist, she spent decades preserving island stories, customs, and local life in books and articles. Her work also reflects a strong public spirit, with interests that reached into politics and women’s rights.
1 Audiobook
Viking Boys
by Jessie Margaret Edmondston Saxby
About the author
Born at Halligarth in Baltasound on the island of Unst, Jessie Margaret Edmondston Saxby grew up in a family deeply interested in science, writing, and Shetland life. She went on to become a Scottish author, journalist, and folklorist whose writing helped record the traditions and character of the islands she knew so well.
Saxby published widely and is especially remembered for her work on Shetland folklore and local history. Her books and articles drew on island customs, storytelling, and everyday experience, making her an important literary voice for Shetland. Reliable reference sources also note her interest in public affairs and describe her as a suffragette.
She lived a long life, from 1842 to 1940, and remains notable for the way she preserved regional culture in accessible, vivid writing. For listeners coming to her work today, she offers both a storyteller’s charm and a valuable window into Shetland’s past.