Isles of the West - Ian Mitchell

This is one of the Scottish ones books which I don't normally touch (he's more careful with his books than I am with mine, and if he has something tempting that's hard to track down the temptation to 'borrow' it might be overwhelming) but I was struggling to get to grips with what I'd taken to read this weekend and after hearing that Mitchell had written about Tex Geddes I thought I'd have a browse. Tex Geddes was a harpoon gunner with Gavin Maxwell in the Soay shark fishery days and bought the island after Maxwell went bust, by all accounts quite a character, and definitely someone who will bear further investigation if his obituary is anything to go by.

Mitchell took to him straight away when he visited in 1996 and writes an entertaining chapter about the occasion and some of the stories told - he mostly wanted to know about Gavin Maxwell which encouraged me to read more. Unfortunately the book doesn't have an index and as I'd also seen mentions of Frank Fraser Darling it seemed worth investigating amazon - where the reviews are mixed to say the least of it (the price of the first copy I found was also unattractive, though further searching has revealed cheaper ones). Intrigued I spent the rest of the day reading on and have now skimmed my way through most of the book. 

I had assumed that 'Isles of the West' and the later 'Isles of the North' were generally about sailing and islands, instead 'Isles of the West' is mostly a crusade against the RSPB, Scottish National Heritage, and any other major conservation body or figure Mitchell comes across. None of these bodies lack detractors in the highlands and islands where ideas about conservation are almost guaranteed to clash with the opinions of crofters and fishermen set on making a living out of the same landscape. In 1996 when the future of Eigg was a hotly debated news topic this was timely and iconoclastic. (Hebridean island with a loathed laird, the outcome was a community buyout in 1997 - I dimly remember this being in the papers.) 

Since then views about conservation and the make up of Island communities have changed considerably, tourism is bigger than ever, property prices have gone through the roof, and incomers have kept on coming in. What's left is occasionally troubling. In an attempt to get answers about how much money has been spent on Corncrake preservation Mitchell frankly bullies hapless RSPB wardens (and then gleefully reports it which makes for odd reading) he has nothing but condemnation for Frank Fraser Darling which may for all I know be well deserved, but dismissing him as a morbidly obsessed seal eater seems a bit extreme, from my recent reading their respective philosophies for the future of the highlands didn't seem so very far apart - both seem to advocate traditional and diverse farming practices as the best way to protect the environment, and both seem convinced that the western isles can be productive farm land. I think he would have had a pop at Maxwell to if he could have got any dirt (and it isn't for lack of trying that he doesn't get any). 

It's an interesting book with a lot to say - much of it worth saying, and one day I should read it properly and try and get past both Mitchell's prejudices and my own. 

Whisky Galore – Compton Mackenzie

Starting off with some of my holiday reading and the intention of writing a list of things I want to commit to blog before I forget (or give in under the pressure of getting pictures from camera to blogger – why does this turn into such a struggle on such a regular basis?) I think I did pretty well reading wise whilst away – I worked my way through 3 and a ½ books which given all the other things we were doing – and serious attention given to whisky drinking is included in those activities, is a respectable number.

Since reading ‘The Monarch of the Glen’ ‘Whisky Galore’ jumped up to the top of the pile. It’s been one of my favourite films for a long time which was the reason that a previous attempt to read it got nowhere. Book and film have relatively little in common; the film (for those who have seen it and know what I’m talking about) takes one element of the story, condenses it and adds considerably more drama. It’s a great film. The book takes the scenic route starting with a love story and a recalcitrant father and of course a desperate shortage of whisky. The islands are dry and the islanders don’t like it. In the fullness of time the SS Cabinet Minister comes aground with a payload of whisky bound for America. The islanders spring into action to liberate the water of life, which once in their possession starts to solve all their problems. It’s a great book.

Mackenzie writes with knowledge and affection (just in case anyone doesn’t know the story the SS Politician went down off Eriskay in 1941 carrying amongst other things 28000 cases of whisky much of which was looted, this isn’t so much a fictionalised account of what happened as delight in a good story.) It made perfect reading for a rainy Sunday on an island, and is a book destined to be re read when I’m feeling nostalgic, homesick, or in need of something gently amusing generally. I loved the reminders of a gentler, slower pace of life, one which admits the possibilities of poetry and fairies (poetic Gaelic ones) and deep inbred cunning.

I think Mackenzie wanted these reminders too; I don’t doubt that he’s writing with an eye to change, by 1947 when ‘Whisky Galore’ was published it must have been clear even in the outlying Hebrides that elements of the culture and community would disintegrate under the pressure of modern life, but I don’t want to get carried away with the idea that this is all the book is about. To my mind it’s mostly a cracking good story which will tell you a lot about Island psychology and why some people thrive and others fail in this environment. I would love to quote at this point, but when I look through the pages for something suitable I find myself reading long past the point where quotation is reasonable so will just say again – it’s a terrific read.

I should also say that the edition pictured is the current Vintage one, the edition I read is a particularly ugly penguin (a cover which won’t be making its way into any postcard collections, and which I know that penguin have since improved on). It might not be a looker but my copy does have a handy Gaelic glossary and phonetics guide at the back, I’m assuming this is standard, but just in case it isn’t and just in case you feel you might want to read it having the glossary was a definite bonus – it’s given me this for example ‘A bhòbh bhòbh’ (a vov vov) – exclamation of despair, which I find myself using from time to time now I’m back at work (only in my head so far) somehow it perfectly sums up that post holiday feeling.