Heather Ale34 by Robert Louis Stevenson
The poem tells the story of a legendary drink brewed by the Picts from heather, which was sweeter than honey and stronger than wine. The Picts, a dwarfish people, were defeated by a Scottish king who sought the secret of their brew. The king captures the last two Picts, a father and son, and demands the secret of the ale. The father offers to reveal the secret if the king kills his son, claiming he fears his son's courage. The king complies, but the father, now alone, refuses to divulge the secret, choosing to die with it.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1890 · Genre: Folklore, Historical Fiction, Poetry · 797 words
First lines
A Galloway Legend / From the bonny bells of heather / They brewed a drink long-syne, / Was sweeter far than honey, / Was stronger far than wine.
They brewed it and they drank it, / And lay in a blessed swound / For days and days together / In their dwellings underground.
There rose a king in Scotland, / A fell man to his foes, / He smote the Picts in battle, / He hunted them like roes.
Over miles of the red mountain / He hunted as they fled, / And strewed the dwarfish bodies / Of the dying and the dead.
What this Textopian page supports
Heather Ale34 is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Folklore, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Fantasy, Gothic
- Length: 797 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Heather Ale34 by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Folklore — The work is presented as a Galloway legend involving traditional mythic elements and folkloric characters, central to its narrative style.
- Historical Fiction — Set against a Scottish backdrop with real historical references and legendary embellishments, it blends historical context with imaginative storytelling.
- Poetry — The text is written in verse with a rhythmic and lyrical structure that aligns with traditional ballad forms.
- Fantasy — Elements such as dwarfish beings, magical brews, and supernatural events introduce a layer of fantasy within the narrative.
Tags
adventure · mystery · drama · historical fiction · exploration · betrayal · romance · suspense · redemption · quest · identity · conflict
More by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Treasure Island (1883)
- The Pavilion on the Links (1909)
- Olalla (1885)
- A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)
- Father Damien, An Open Letter To The Reverend Doctor Hyde Of Honolulu (1914)
- A Lowden Sabbath Morn (1916)
- Songs of Travel and Other Verses (1908)
- Prayers Written At Vailima (1916)
- All works by Robert Louis Stevenson