Wells of Joy - Tobraichean Solais - Gaelic Religious Poems

Murdoch Campbell's books in English - including Gleanings of Highland Harvest, The Loveliest Story Ever Told, and Memories of a Wayfaring Man - are cherished by many. He reserved his native Gaelic for poetry and song, as well as for pulpit and parish. Any publication of Gaelic religious poetry is now a rare event, and this small collection is welcome not only for its content but also for its craftsmanship and passion. It exhibits a fluent command of the traditional Gaelic bardic style while disclosing, behind this, a perceptive mind, a warm heart and an ardent evangelicalism. These poems point both those who knew him, and new readers, to 'wells of joy' which he found incomparable and tirelessly commended.

Review :
There are only ten poems, or hymns, by Murdoch in the book, but aren't they good. There is a great deal of love - the poet's love for Christ ... and for his island Christ's love for the church ... and for individual men. And in the shorter hymns I noticed Murdoch trying out different kinds of metre ... All out of the ordinary, another mark of the true poet. There is another proof in the book that he was an excellent poet. For there are two simple poems in it - one an elegy for Murdoch that Mrs Alice MacLeod composed and another, 'The Bride Going Home', by Murdoch himself. Two simple poems, full of common words, short lines, short expressions, simple thoughts. Perhaps they ought not to be compared. The elegy isn't bad at all as poetry, a little bit staid telling us about the influence Murdoch had. But 'The Bride' is lit throughout with a lyrical flair. It is a jewel, a white stone in the stream. Also in Tobraichean Solais are Murdoch's biography, a service he broadcast in 1957 and other things, all bilingual and photographs. ... everything is correct, something that cannot be said about many Gaelic books today. I greatly commend it. From a translation of Ronald Black's Scotsman review of Tobraichean Solais on 22nd March 2014; 'Wells of Joy' is very attractively produced, with an informative introduction, a short biography, a sermon, an appreciation, a selection of photographs - and the poems. All this extra material should ensure that we know enough about the man to appreciate his verses. This book is essentially a Gaelic book, with translation into English provided alongside. Ten poems appear, with three written in English. It is so satisfying to have excellent translation without any attempt made to versify it. For a very perceptive and sympathetic analysis of the poems the translator's Introduction is to be recommended. Having this small but beautiful collection of Gaelic spiritual verse makes one realise that a comprehensive collection of Gaelic spiritual songs, past and present, would be a treasure and a witness. Mary Gillies, in The Free Church Monthly Record 2014; Today, we have neither the linguistic nor the spiritual depth to write such poems, and I fear that - to adapt Campbell's own language - they are themselves the real last gleanings of the Highland Evangelical harvest. Donald Macleod, West Highland Free Press, December 2013