the offending article

J.H.Millar is credited as originating the term 'Kailyard' as a literary phenomenon (or stigma) in his article of April 1895 in The New Review.   It's not entirely true.  However, for over a century the term has been used as a term of offence regarding particular Scottish authors, and some kinds of Scottish literature - and even Scots culture much more broadly.   Over the past quarter of a century there has been a shift towards seeing 'Kailyard' as a critical concept, but the authors damned with the title have still suffered from the slur.  Foremost among these 'unco' authors are J.M.Barrie and S.R.Crockett.   Both of their work is well represented by Society catalogues in the unco Bookstore. 

I've been studying and researching the work of these two authors since the 1990s and while my exploration (and expose) of Kailyard is still incomplete, it seemed right that in this 125th anniversary year, I start  turning over the soil in public.  
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I'm starting with  'The Offending Article' by J.H.Millar ( with more than a little help from W.E.Henley) and some other contextual articles.   You can download the digital text (PDF format) from the Unco bookstore HERE and it's free if you're a member of the 'unco' community.  Otherwise, it'll  cost you £1.99

Cally Phillips

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