Cheumnaich AONGHAS MacLEÒID à Oilthigh Glaschu (1950). An dèidh dà bhliadhna anns an Arm chuir e seachad a rèis ri teagasg ann am baile Ghlaschu agus ann an Eilean Leòdhais. Bha ùidh aige anns an t-seann bhàrdachd Bheurla. Threòraich sin e gu rannsachadh a dhèanamh am bitheadh e comasach cuid de na cuspairean inninneach anns a’ Bheurla a bhith air an eadar-theangachadh, anns an aon fharsaingeachd agus doimhneachd. Rugadh e ann an Tolastadh, Eilean Leòdhais. Bhuineadh e do theaghlach aig an robh sinnsearachd mar mharaidchean agus iasgairean. Thàlaidh sin e gu oidhirp a dhèanamh an Seann Mharaiche aig Coleridge eadar-theangachadh gu Gàidhlig – mìr bàrdachd anns a bheil doimhneachd agus dìomhaireachd, agus iomadh-fhillteachd, agus saobh-chràbhadh, agus gàbhadh mara – iad uile co-cheangailte ri tachartasan os‑nàdarrach.

ANGUS MACLEOD graduated from the University of Glasgow (1950). After two years in the Army he spent his career teaching in Glasgow and the Island of Lewis. He was interested in traditional classical English poetry. This led him to explore the possibility of translating, into Gaelic, some of the interesting themes, in the same breadth and depth, as were contained in the originals. He was born in North Tolsta, Isle of Lewis and belonged to a family with a long ancestry as seafarers and fishermen. This attracted him to attempt to translate, as his first subject, Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner – a poem of depth and mystery, complexity, superstition and danger at sea – all combined with supernatural happenings.