Alexander Leighton (writer)
Scottish man of letters
Alexander Leighton (1800–1874) was a Scottish writer, known as the editor of Tales of the Borders .
Life
Born at Dundee , he studied at the Dundee Academy , and then took up medicine at the University of Edinburgh . He worked as a lawyer's clerk in Edinburgh, and then as a man of letters. He also worked as a book editor, and probably as a ghostwriter. [1]
Leighton died on 24 December 1874. [1]
Works
The Tales of the Borders , a popular short story serial, was begun at Berwick-on-Tweed in 1834 by John Mackay Wilson , who died the following year. His brother continued the work for a time. Shortly afterwards an Edinburgh publisher, John Sutherland, became proprietor, and Leighton was appointed editor and chief story writer; the series was completed in 1840. In 1857 Leighton re-edited the complete Tales of the Borders , and it was reissued in 1863–4, 1869 (with additions), and in 1888. He received assistance from Hugh Miller and Thomas Gillespie , and contributions from others such as Alexander Bethune and his brother John , and John Howell . [1] [2] [3]
In 1860–1 Leighton published two series of Curious Storied Traditions of Scottish Life , in 1864 Mysterious Legends of Edinburgh , in 1865 Shellburn , a novel, and in 1867 Romance of the Old Town of Edinburgh . Other works were Men and Women of History , Jephthah's Daughter , A Dictionary of Religions , and a Latin metrical version of Robert Burns's songs . [1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lee, Sidney , ed. (1893). "Leighton, Alexander (1800-1874)" . Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 33. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ↑ Basu, Sayoni. "Bethune, Alexander". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi : 10.1093/ref:odnb/2306 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ Woolrich, A. P. "Howell, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi : 10.1093/ref:odnb/13976 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain
:
Lee, Sidney
, ed. (1893). "
Leighton, Alexander (1800-1874)
".
Dictionary of National Biography
. Vol.
33. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
External links
- Works by Alexander Leighton at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Alexander Leighton at Internet Archive
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