Island on the Edge of the World: The Story of St Kilda

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Island on the Edge of the World: The Story of St Kilda
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Charles MacLean
Afterword by Margaret Buchanan
SeriesCanons
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:224
Dimensions(mm): Height 198,Width 129
Category/GenreBritish and Irish History
Pets and the Natural World
ISBN/Barcode 9781786896100
ClassificationsDewey:941.14
Audience
General
Edition Main - Canons
Illustrations two 8page b&w sections on text paper; Illustrations, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Canongate Books
Imprint Canongate Canons
Publication Date 17 January 2019
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

For more than two thousand years the people of St Kilda remained remote from the world. Their society was viable, utopian even; but in the nineteenth century the islands were discovered by missionaries, do-gooders and tourists, who brought with them money, disease and despotism. In 1930, the few remaining islanders were evacuated, no longer able to support themselves. An exploration of the life and death of the remote Hebridean society, Island on the Edge of the World is a moving account of human endeavour.

Author Biography

Charles Maclean was born in 1946 and has had a diverse and international writing career. He is the author of a number of award-wining books on Scotch whisky and has also written novels and non-fiction books on the culture and landscape of Scotland. He is a consultant to the whisky industry and sits on the judging panel of the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Island on the Edge of the World was Maclean's first book and has become recognised as a classic work of social history.

Reviews

A story like a marvellous pebble, wet from the sea, strange and comic like all things out of step with time, sad as the old songs the women sang, splendidly told * * Sunday Times * * Reawakened my awe at the strangeness of our world -- WILL SELF A profound moral for our time . . . A beautiful, well-written book * * Washington Post * * A fascinating book . . . Charles Maclean is an excellent writer . . . he describes the story of St Kilda with powerful compassion -- MAGNUS MAGNUSSON An evocative study of the island * * Scotsman * * Excellent * * Esquire * *