The aim of this book is to revisit Ossian whilst broadening the scope of oral literature and translation to embrace cultural contexts outside of Europe. Epics ballads prose tales ritual and lyric songs as genres existed orally before writing was invented. Serious debate about them at least in modern Western culture may be said to have begun with James Macpherson and Thomas Percy. Considering the ongoing debate on orality and authenticity in the case of Ossian this book includes groundbreaking previously published essays which provide essential information relating to orality Ossian and translation but have been frequently overlooked. Its contributions focus on the aspects of authenticity transmediation popular poetry and music examining Scottish German Portuguese Brazilian African American Indian Indian and Chinese literatures.