A Drop in the Ocean
Lawrence MacEwen and the Isle of Muck
Published on 1. October 2014
256 pages
978-0-85790-822-3 (ISBN)
Description
Polly Pullar tells the fascinating tale of one of the Hebrides unique thriving small communities through the colourful anecdotes of Lawrence MacEwen, whose family have owned the island since 1896. A wonderfully benevolent, and eccentric character, his passion and love for the island and its continuing success, has always been of the utmost importance. He has kept diaries all his life and delves deep into them, unveiling a uniquely human story, punctuated with liberal amounts of humour, as well as heart-rending tragedy, always dominated by the vagaries of the sea.
Here are tales of coal puffers and livestock transportation on steamers and small boats, extraordinary chance meetings and adventures that eventually led him to finding his wife Jenny, on the island of Soay. It's a book about the small hard-grafting community of 30 souls on this fertile island of just 1500 acres.
Here are tales of coal puffers and livestock transportation on steamers and small boats, extraordinary chance meetings and adventures that eventually led him to finding his wife Jenny, on the island of Soay. It's a book about the small hard-grafting community of 30 souls on this fertile island of just 1500 acres.
Reviews / Votes
'This book is a happy marriage of subject and writer - and a rare event in the life and times of the Hebrides' * Scots Magazine * 'Unique and often amusing ... one of the greatest things about this book is that Pullar lets MacEwan talk openly and freely about the island and what he does, giving the book an informal and friendly tone ... a lively and entertaining account of the highs and lows of life on this small windswept island ... A must read for people interested in Scottish history' * Scottish Field *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Illustrations
16 Plates, color
File size
6,03 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-85790-822-3 (9780857908223)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
06/2015
Birlinn Ltd
€31.15
Article exhausted; check different version
Book
08/2014
Birlinn Ltd
€36.11
Article exhausted; check different version
Person
Polly Pullar grew up in Ardnamurchan, surrounded by wildlife. In addition to being a field naturalist, wildlife guide and wildlife rehabilitator she is also photographer and journalist, and contributes to a wide selection of magazines. She is currently wildlife writer for Scottish Field and is the author of a number of books. She is the author of A Richness of Martens: Wildlife Tales From Ardnamurchan (Birlinn, 2018).
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Map
- Foreword
- A Drop in the Ocean
- Growing Up on Muck
- Stealing My Own Chocolate
- Johnnie and Hector Macdonald
- Lobster Fishing
- Alasdair
- Wave
- Bryan Walters
- Tex Geddes
- Jenny's Story
- The Wedding
- Arable Matters
- Catriona's Wedding
- The Great Rum Fire
- Ponies
- Livestock
- A Load of Bull
- Sheep
- Doctors and Vets
- Lawrence as Film Star
- Peter
- The Merino Tup
- Ewen's Return and the Building of Port Mor House
- More About Colum
- Electrifying Experiences
- A New School
- Neighbourly Relations
- David Jones
- Bruce Mathers
- Dougie the Dyker
- Duchess
- The Noble Sensation
- John Morris and the Postal Bride
- Lunchtime Drinks at Inverockle
- The Catering and Craft Department
- Snow Business
- Pier Pressure
- Amy
- Blackie
- An Unusual Migrant Bird
- John Low
- Ronnie Dyer
- The Turf-roof Bothy
- A Pig in a Poke
- Island Transport
- Television
- Pat & Gwyneth
- Izzy
- The Green Shed
- Colin & Ruth's Story
- Mary & Toby's Story
- Sarah
- Land and Seascapes
- Horseplay
- The End, or the Beginning
- Lawrence's Parents
- Timeline
- The Isle of Muck - a Brief History, According to Lawrence
- Plate Section
