Erskine Beveridge's earliest introduction to North Uist dates back to the autumn of 1897, when he visited the island for the purpose of comparing its ancient forts with those found in Coll and Tiree. After that, he visited on many occassions to eplore its various districts and came to know them all well.
A companion to Beveridge's North Uist, Coll and Tiree is also a book of exceptional rarity.
The result of painstaking research in the last years of the 19th century this book was first published in 1903 with a limited print run. This is its first modern publication.
Coll and Tiree remains to this day an unparallelled account of the archeology and history of these islands. Few people have ever approached the Hebrides with Beveridge's range and depth of knowledge. The book is lavishly illustrated with over 100 plates which show many of the sites before they were fully excavated, and before the ravages of the 20th century took their toll.
Price: £25.00
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The Isles of the West by Ian Mitchell
Ian Mitchell explores the major issues, such as land reform and conservation, peculiar to the Scottish Islands as the new century dawns.
Interwoven with the beauty of the islands is a persistant worry that alien forces, both Scottish and European, sentimental and mercenary, are distorting the indigenous society by imposing outside ideas on communities.
This is the first book ever to be written on the collective history of the little group of islands between Ardnamurchain and Skye.
Denis Rixon has researched the extensive material remains together with the scanty extant written evidence to produce a wide-ranging and provocative analysis of Highland history. The result is an extremely fresh and original analysis of these islands and their history
Price: £8.99
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Barra - Told by the Coddy
The Coddy was one of the best storytellers and characters of the Western Isles, and was the inspiration for Whisky Galore. His warmth and personality shine through these stories, which are a wonderful mixture of myth, tradition and anecdote.
For any student of folklore, for anyone interested in the traditions and history of the Western Isles, or for anyone who likes a tale well told, The Coddy's Tales from Barra is essential reading.
It is the only book available which details the history and folk traditions of this magical Hebridean Island.
Price: £5.99
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South Uist by Angus MacLellan
A wonderful collection of forty-two stories covering every type of tale found on the island of South Uist, including heroic Fingalian stories, international folk tales, ghost stories and local historical and humorous anecdotes.
These tales of ancient kings, thrilling escapes, jealous stepmothers and magic spells are fascinating not only for theit narrative power, but also for their links with the myths and legends of Ireland, Scandanavia, France and Greece.
South Uist was one of the last places in Western Europe where the ancient art of storytelling was still honoured and practised. The style of these stories is at once both unusual and hypnotic, reflecting the oral tradition at their source.
Price: £7.99
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