Scottish Modernism, Kailyard Fiction and the Woman at Home

John Buchan’s race through life, chased by his only foe—illness

“…Only 18 years older than Buchan, Mrs Helen Buchan (1857–1937) had formed an indissoluble bond with her eldest son during his year in bed as a small child. Mrs Buchan would also have adhered to the cultural commonplace purveyed by Scottish Presbyterian Kailyard (‘cabbage patch’) fiction whereby ‘mother and son’ are locked together ‘in a relationship of mutual service’ (Walton 2015, 143). Domination of the mother over sons and their choice of spouse was another feature of this parochial literature, first given its name by John Hepburn Millar, ‘writing in the New Review in 1895’ (Nash 2007, 194).…”

“…Kailyard literature began earlier in the nineteenth century and continued into the early twentieth century, but was increasingly disparaged and lampooned by critics and more serious writers from the 1890s. ‘[M]arrying a weak wife’, according to Kailyard mothers must not take place, as it would be ‘courting disaster’ (Walton 2015, 149). A son was expected to be successful, but also to be ‘frugal’, while ‘posting his weekly savings to his saintly mother’ (Findlater (1904) in Walton 2015, 143).…”

“…‘[M]arrying a weak wife’, according to Kailyard mothers must not take place, as it would be ‘courting disaster’ (Walton 2015, 149). A son was expected to be successful, but also to be ‘frugal’, while ‘posting his weekly savings to his saintly mother’ (Findlater (1904) in Walton 2015, 143). Buchan faithfully followed the tradition of being spendthrift and financially supportive to his mother.…”