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
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
. 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.
Leighton died on 24 December 1874.
Works
The ''Tales of the Borders'', a popular short story serial, was begun at
Berwick-on-Tweed in 1834 by
John Mackay Wilson
John Mackay Wilson (15 August 1804 – 2 October 1835) was a Scottish writer famous for the eponymous "''Wilson's'' ''Tales of The Borders (and of Scotland)"'' He was born in Tweedmouth, on the border between Scotland and England. He gave many ta ...
, 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
Hugh Miller (10 October 1802 – 23/24 December 1856) was a self-taught Scottish geologist and writer, folklorist and an evangelical Christian.
Life and work
Miller was born in Cromarty, the first of three children of Harriet Wright ('' ...
and
Thomas Gillespie, and contributions from others such as
Alexander Bethune and his brother
John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Secon ...
, and
John Howell.
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.
References
Attribution
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leighton, Alexander
1800 births
1874 deaths
Writers from Dundee
Scottish book editors
People educated at the High School of Dundee
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh