In contradistinction to Child, Grudtvig thought that the vulgarity of Buchan's material argued in favour of its authenticity. Judging from Steve G's and Jim C.'s comments, however, the jury is still out.

I WAS struck, however, by how seemingly low-kilted or bland Buchan's secret songs were.

My apologies to Ian Spring, by the by, for confusing his work with Murray's. With two books on Buchan in as many weeks, it's either feast or famine.

Jon Bartlett