Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 17

Drawn from the oral traditions and local histories of the Scottish Borders, this volume gathers tales that have whispered through generations. The collection opens with 'Roger Goldie's Narrative,' a stirring portrait of ordinary courage set against the panic of 1804, when word spread of French warships approaching the coast. Roger, a husband and father, answers the call to defend his homeland, but finds himself torn between duty as a soldier and duty as a parent. His young son, Robert, insists on following into what may be battle. What unfolds is not a tale of grand battles or famous victories, but of the quiet heroism required when a man must choose between protecting his family and protecting his country. These are stories where folklore meets history, where the borderland's rough beauty and fierce independence shape every character. They speak to something timeless: the bonds that hold families together when nations tremble.