Minstrel Heart

Guruji said: 'Sing not the song that others have sung. Sing only what you yourself have realised in your own heart.' What I've realised in my own heart is that its song is for many, that it sings for whom it meets on its way. It does not remain at home, but is a wandering minstrel heart. This book is the engaging and colourful memoir of celebrated Scottish storyteller David Campbell. It is an exploration of the nature of love in its many guises, and of David's lifelong love of story. Join David as he tells his story from childhood in wartime Fraserburgh to a holiday job with a dramatic and life-changing conclusion, through a pivotal role as a BBC radio producer at the time of the Scottish renaissance of writing, drama and folk traditions, and finally to his international career as an acclaimed storyteller, mentored by celebrated tinker-traveller Duncan Williamson. The roots of things in my life have always been the love of words, stories, poetry and people, and the joy of bringing them together; it is there that I find the deepest meaning and the sweetest music.

David Campbell has been a lover of stories, poetry and people from an early age. These passions have directed the course of his life into teaching, broadcasting, writing, performing and storytelling. Born in Edinburgh, he spent his childhood in the story-and song-rich NorthEast of Scotland. After graduating with Honours in English from the University of Edinburgh, he worked as a producer with bbc Radio Scotland for many years devising, scripting and directing a wide variety of radio programmes. Mentored in storytelling by Duncan Williamson, David has gone on to mentor many others in the craft. One of Scotland's finest storytellers, he has toured worldwide with his repertoire of talks and stories and currently lives in Edinburgh.