Diorbhail Nic a' Bhriuthainn

Dorothy Brown (Scottish Gaelic: Diorbhail Nic a' Bhriuthainn; died 1644) was a Scottish Gaelic poet and songwriter who lived on the Isle of Luing in Argyll, Scotland.

Songwriting

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She was a prolific songwriter, but only two of her songs survive:

  1. Alasdair a Laoigh mo chill ("Alasdair, love of my heart"), about Alasdair Mac Colla, a general in Montrose's army, which she wrote after seeing his ships pass through the sound of Luing on an expedition against the Cambpells.[1] The song is in the style of troubadour poetry, where the author is inspired to fall in love with a character based on tales of their reputation.[2]
  2. a lament of the duchess of Coll[3]

Death

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Brown died in 1644 and is buried in the old churchyard in Luing.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Early modern women poets, (1520-1700): an anthology. Stevenson, Jane, 1959-, Davidson, Peter, 1957-. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. ISBN 0199242577. OCLC 45350260.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ Chedgzoy, Kate (2007). Women's writing in the British Atlantic world : memory, place and history, 1550-1700. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1107405912. OCLC 190861140.
  3. ^ Early modern women poets, (1520-1700) : an anthology. Stevenson, Jane, 1959-, Davidson, Peter, 1957-. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. ISBN 0199242577. OCLC 45350260.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ The biographical dictionary of Scottish women from the earliest times to 2004. Ewan, Elizabeth., Innes, Sue., Reynolds, Sian. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 2006. ISBN 0748617132. OCLC 367680960.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)