Jennifer Morag Henderson

I am very proud to have an essay published in a new book, just out at the end of December 2022.

« Seignelay Colbert de Castlehill (1735-1811): Un évêque entre Lumières écossaises et Contre-Révolution » is published by the Presses de l’Université Toulouse 1 Capitole. Edited and introduced by Alain Alcouffe, it comprises articles or essays about the life of Colbert de Castlehill which were gathered together after an international symposium about Castlehill’s life.

My essay is titled “Cuthbert de Castlehill vu d’Inverness”, and it looks particularly at Castlehill’s early life in the Highlands of Scotland. The essay, and indeed the whole book, are, of course, in French, as was the original symposium.

The symposium was held in December 2020, so, due to the covid pandemic, it was moved online. I filmed a short video to present some of my research, explaining a little about Castlehill’s fascinating life. As you can see in the video credits, I received some support for my research and writing from the Highland Archive Centre, the Saltire Society and the French Institute in Edinburgh, which was particularly valuable in helping me to continue researching despite the closure of libraries and archives during lockdown.

The video, like the final published essay, is in French, and I am particularly pleased to have been able to work on this project in a language which is not my own. It has been a considerable amount of work, with some very rewarding outcomes – and the promise of more to come.

This is an ongoing project for me, and I continue to research and write on this topic, following in the footsteps of the researchers Alain Alcouffe and Andrew Moore.

Copies of the book can be ordered direct from the University Press, or or via your local bookshop, using the ISBN 9782361702649 to order.