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Billy Tait's Villon translations

Hansel Press publishes book of Billy Tait's translations of the French poet Villon.

On Saturday 3 September, Hansel Co-operative Press launched their latest publication, Villon’s 'Le Testament' and Other Translations, by the late W.J. (Billy) Tait, who rendered the original fifteenth century French into Shetland dialect. Only a few of the poems were published in Billy Tait's lifetime. The manuscript, which has languished in Shetland Archives since Billy’s death, has been prepared for publication by John Cumming and Mark Ryan Smith and includes forewords by both Smith and Derrick McClure of Aberdeen University.  The launch formed part of the Wordplay Festival, and featured readings of Billy Tait’s work by Mary Blance and Jim Mainland, as well as reminiscences by Brian Smith and a review of Billy’s place in Shetland literature by Mark Ryan Smith.

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