Laughton Johnston is better known for his writings on natural history and nature conservation. A Dream of Silver is his first novel.
Due to the decline in his health, an old man is forced to move from his retirement cottage on Shetland to live at the Edinburgh home of his 10-year-old grandson. As a way of making contact with a child he hardly knows, and who hardly knows him, the old man begins to tell the boy the story of his own childhood and of his encounter with the works of the two giants of Scottish literature of the 19th century. It is a moral and physical journey; the narratives of the grandfather and grandson, and that of an old man's childhood, closely interweaving.
Born in 1940 on the Island of Yell, Shetland, John A. Strachan grew up at a time when piped water and electric light were still distant dreams for the out lying isles. But the simplicity of the life was made up for by the richness of character in the islands. These are boyhood memories from a way of life long departed; remembered with honesty, humour and great affection.
Around Shetland: A Picture Guide is a beautifully presented picture guide to Shetland. The book is divided into sections that cover Fair Isle, South Mainland, Lerwick, Central Mainland, North Mainland and The Isles. The photographs cover many aspects of Shetland’s landscape and Shetland life and are the work of several contributors. 15cm, 75 pages, Paperback
94 pages, 21cm, paperback. A potpourri of tales from times past mostly with a nautical flavour. Beginning with his early years at Sound and schooldays at Lerwick Central Public school and in Yell, the author takes us through his experiences on the training ship Dolphin, voyages in the merchant navy and his time as a Distressed British Seaman.
Benny-benny Seawater spends all of his holidays on his Aunty &
Uncle's croft in Shetland. He has plenty of freedom and he loves
exploring the haystacks, the byre, the bridge and the burn, but
most of all he loves being a Viking. In this book, Benny-benny
Seawater spends his best holiday ever making his Viking
costume.
Christopher Sandison of Eshaness 1781-1870:Diarist in an Age of Social Change
Ronald Sandison
22cm, 358pages. The life and times of schoolmaster at Eshaness. A vivid account of life in Northmavine in the nineteenth century. With b/w and colour illustrations. Hardback.
Childrens' colouring book which includes pictures of Shetland Ponies, Up Helly A', Clickimin Broch and a map of Shetland for budding young artists to colour in.
Tammas and Tulya Peesterleetie have three children; the troublesome twins Tivla and Fivla and their elder sister Trippa. After a disastrous bulwand flying lesson with their Da, Tivla and Fivla embark on a life threatening adventure as they try to put things right.
Threatened by the curse of the njuggle, the boys depend on Trippa for help. Trippa leads them to Shetland’s most reputed wizard, Luggie. He claims the curse has never been reversed before. Can Luggie save them?
Valerie Watt is a secondary teacher who lives in Lerwick with her husband Alex and son Magnus. Whilst she was playing the fiddle one morning, Magnus spotted Tivla and Fivla Peesterleetie peeping out of a cupboard. A friendship grew between the two families from which Valerie’s first book has emerged a trowie tale for children age 8-12 years.
Between January and August 1920, Shetland Times reporter Robert M.Greig wrote a series of articles on his experiences on the Western Front in the First World War. Gathered together for the first time these form a startling insight into a shell-torn, barbed wire world of terrible sacrifice and outstanding courage.
Fond Hopes Destroyed: Breach of Promise Cases in Shetland
Mary Prior
Fond Hopes Destroyed draws on the rich records in the Shetland Archives to describe the broken relationships which landed some couples in court in breach of promise cases. Sailor's letters to their sweethearts written from around the world were particularly incriminating, and often caused amusement when read there. Ribaldry and heartbreak making strange bedfellows.
A spellbinding collection of folk tales told by Lawrence Tulloch who is acclaimed as an international storyteller having participated in events in Sweden, Faroe, Iceland and the USA, as well as many festivals in Ireland and Scotland.
From the extensive family archive at Gardie comes the story of the house's passage through turbulent times and the everyday life of the generations who lived in and around it. Hardback
From the extensive family at Gardie comes the story of the house's passage through turbulent times and the everyday life of the generations who lived in and around it. Paperback edition (A hardback edition is available as well)
This book draws chiefly on the personal recollections of fifty people who, between the years of 1925 and 1991, were employed by or closely involved with the firm of T.M. Adie and Sons.
Who was John Walker? Everyone in the isles would have something to say about this controversial character who stands out in the 19th century Shetland. He was probably most widely despised because of his links with the clearances but was also invloved in many other activites during this interesting period of Shetland's history. Publication date 10th December
Moving house from one end of Great Britain to the other, Cornwall to the Shetland Isles, was to be the start of nearly seven years of new and exciting experiences for Millie Vigor. While helping her husband to rebuild a ruined croft house Millie bought land, acquired a flock of sheep, a collie pup and started a poultry rearing business.
Local News tells the history through the press and covers a period of great change in Shetland with emigration getting in to full swing; the arrival of the telephone; the Dutch herring fishing and associated smuggling; break-ins and land disputes; wrecks and rescues.
Merchant's Tale, A: Life of William Hay (1787-1858)
Margaret Rose
Historical fiction based upon the life of William Hay, and the unpredictability of a merchant's life in any age. What drew the author to the life of William Hay was that, having gone bankrupt, he fought his way back to make his company the most prosperous in Shetland. Such courage, hard work and determination speak to any age. From childhood in the days of open boats and smuggling, in a land of fishing, whaling and disastrous storms, we follow him through his early years of apprenticeship and success, through struggle, disappointment and defeat, including the death of two wives and some of his fifteen children, to resignation and contentment in old age.
The author was born in the North Yell manse at Cullivoe. Though he has lived much of his life in Australia, Alistair has never lost his deep love of Shetland and Shetlanders. Nor heard the Clock Strike reflects this love. As a keen hiker and naturalist, Alistair has explored many of Shetland's more remote districts. His description of the landscape coupled with a humorous glimpse into the lives of a crofting community makes this an easy feel good read.
21cm, 58pages. Tracing history of Norn language. First comprehensive account of Norn to appear since early part of this century and first to treat both Orkney and Shetland Norn together. Written by professor of Scandinavian Studies at University College London. Paperback.
