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Sorley MacLean 26 October 1911 – 24 November 1996) was a Scottish Gaelic poet, described by the Scottish Poetry Library as “one of the major Scottish poets of the modern era” because of his “mastery of his chosen medium and his engagement with the European poetic tradition and European politics”.
Nobel Prize Laureate Seamus Heaney credited MacLean with saving Scottish Gaelic poetry.
Born on October 26, 1911, MacLean’s poetry often reflected his experiences, including his involvement in World War II, his love for the Scottish landscape, and his engagement with political and cultural issues. His work has had a profound impact on the revitalization of Scottish Gaelic poetry. He was raised in a strict Presbyterian family on the island of Raasay, immersed in Gaelic culture and literature from birth, but abandoned religion for socialism.
Sorley MacLean’s contributions to Gaelic literature earned him recognition, and his poetry has been translated into English, allowing a broader audience to appreciate his artistry. His death marked the loss of a key figure in Scottish literary and cultural history.