In 1691, the Scottish minister Robert Kirk penned The Secret Commonwealth, the foundational source text on the lore of fairies. However, this seminal work remained unpublished for 120 years until Sir Walter Scott released an incomplete version, which shaped most subsequent editions. Over time, various publications have either presented the text in modernised form, presented it only in its archaic form, or retained only portions of the original language offering abridged versions that obscure Kirk’s full intent.

In To Glimpse a Hollow Hill, Yates presents, for the first time, the complete and unabridged text of The Secret Commonwealth in both its original form and a fully modernised version. This edition offers unparalleled insights and accessibility into Kirk’s work, alongside a comprehensive history of the manuscript’s transmission through time. Yates provides a faithful rendering of Kirk’s words, correcting errors that have persisted for over two centuries, and includes extensive analysis and commentary. This definitive volume also illuminates previously misrepresented aspects of the Seers’ magical practices and the true nature of the various Sith, restoring Kirk’s vision in its entirety.

248pp

Standard Edition - £75

Printed covers, limited to 273 copies.

Seer Edition - £165

Buckram covers, foil emboss, housed in a slipcase, limited to 50 copies.
Includes a numbered and signed card print.

For deluxe editions please visit our deluxe shop in the menu.

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