W. A. (William Alexander) Clouston

Born in 1843 in Stromness, Orkney, William Alexander Clouston became known as a Scottish writer, folklorist, and student of Eastern literature. He spent part of his career in the book trade and publishing world, which suited his deep interest in old texts, translations, and the long journeys stories make from one language and culture to another.

Clouston is best remembered for works such as Popular Tales and Fictions, Flowers from a Persian Garden, and his editions and studies of story collections including the Book of Sindibad. His writing often compared versions of the same tale across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, showing how motifs and plot patterns reappear in different traditions.

He died in 1896, but his books remained useful to later readers of folklore, mythology, and comparative literature. Even now, his work stands out for its curiosity, range, and enthusiasm for the shared life of stories.