But an arguably even more intriguing aspect of the SS Politician story remained unknown to all but a few until some 60 years after the event. Another book that’s as much about the journey as it is the destination. Whiskies Galore sees Ian Buxton explore Island distilleries, taking in Islay, Skye and the Orkneys. What’s great about this book, is that it isn’t just facts and tasting notes, it’s full of asides and opinion. As the author travels up the west coast, we hear his thoughts on everything from Arran to Talisker, but not just on the whisky – the people, the visitor centres and even a distillery’s standing in the industry all get assessed by Buxton. This is an entertaining read on one of the lesser written about regions of whisky.

I am in two minds about this book, for I am sure that had I read it in print or on kindle, I would have given it 3 stars only, but the awesome narration by David Rintoul, whom I just cannot praise highly enough!!, rendered it much more enjoyable. His style and Scottish accents delighted my Scotland-loving ears and soul and I could have gone on listening for an ever longer period. Honri, Baynham (November 1967). "Milestones in British Film Studios and Their Production Techniques – 1897–1967". Journal of the SMPTE. 76 (11): 1116–1121. doi: 10.5594/J13675. ISSN 0361-4573. The book takes its own sweet and long time to build up and gather steam (or is that Whisky fumes?) and at the beginning reads more like a collection of loosely tide storylines about quirky, Scottish Islanders than an organic whole, but then the parts starts to fit together nicely and in retrospect, I did not mind about the really slow and seemingly disjointed beginning. Strictly speaking, this English stance on freedom has as little to do with genuine freedom as libertarianism has to do with true liberty. In both cases there is a certain insularity and bigotry that merely opposes the outsider who seeks to interfere in their lives, however well-meant.We are introduced to a great cast of quirky characters on both islands with their side stories, including 2 "romances". And David Rintoul did full justice to the different voices and accents as well as to the Gaelic phrases (not that I am any expert on that!).

To me the book is mainly about two weddings and the osbtacles that two very different men have to overcome to achieve their ambitions of marrying island girls. The worldly, middle-aged English Sergeant-Major Alfred Odd is dead set on marrying Peggy Macroon whose father seems strangely pessimistic about the match and wonders what the rush is, whilst the rather timid school teacher George Campbell has his sights set on housekeeper Catriona Macleod in direct opposition to his own mother (described as an "old Tartar" by the Sergeant-Major). The reason I waffled so much is that I found the plot hilarious but had some trouble with the Scot dialects (I have trouble reading dialects of all kinds). The interspersed Gaelic didn't give me as much trouble as my edition had a glossary of Gaelic terms with how to pronounce them & their meaning. At first, the authorities were not hugely concerned. The eight cases containing the money were first reported to be covered in fuel and water; then presumed swept away by the seas. At one point, the head of the salvage operation was said to have given a few away as souvenirs. Indeed the presence of whisky serves in two different ways to remove the relationship problems of two couples. A timid man is too scared to bring his fiancée home to meet his formidable mother, and an English officer cannot persuade his fiancée’s father to allow her to marry. Whisky solves both these problems, but in different ways. (It would be spoiling the book to say how.)Whilst there are some wonderful characters in the book, such as the officious Home Guard Captain Waggett and the larger than life priest Father Macalister, there are a bewildering number of them. Many characters seem to just dip in and out of the story and it is sometimes difficult to keep up, whilst the novel itself is very dialogue heavy. However, that is no bad thing I guess as it does allow you to become immersed in the gentle intrigue, mischief and humour of the 1940s Hebrides.

As stated, the book is charming, filled with Scots Gaelic speech with a glossary at the end for Sassenachs who speak no Gaelic (like “Muggles” in Harry Potter). It describes island life and island attitudes and beliefs, from the deep importance of whisky in Scots’ lives to encounters with various kinds of “Little People” and Skerries – seals who come on land and become people, but who can also return to the sea as seals! McFarlane, Brian (22 September 2005). "Ealing Studios (act. 1907–1959)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (onlineed.). Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ref:odnb/93789. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular whisky books out there, covering everything from Japanese whisky to taste maps. The Way of Whisky – Dave Broom Then things got considerably worse. As the winds drove SS Politician further off-course, at 7.40am a lookout glimpsed land; in desperation, the ship swung away, only to founder on the unseen sandbanks off Rosinish Point on the Isle of Eriskay.

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You probably know that it has parallels with a real event in 1941 when the SS Politician suffered a similar fate off the island of Eriskay. However, the book (unlike the 1949 film) only has the latter part of its content dedicated to the islanders making off with their alcoholic spoils; the grounding of the ship doesn't happen until half way through the book and the actual search is contained in one chapter. Clark, Gregory (2018). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 30 January 2018.

Whether you’re trying to expand your knowledge, discover new drams or just want an easy bedtime read, there are a range of fantastic books ready to be explored. Chorge will neffer be having the courage to tell Mistress Campbell he's going to be married to her. Neffer!' he declared. 'Not unless he'd trunk a tram the size of Loch Sleeport itself, and then I believe it would turn to water inside his stamac when he saw his mother gazing at him.' " Another shout out for the prolific Dave Broom, with this book, The World Atlas of Whisky. While there’s information here on more than 200 distilleries, where this one really stands out is its guide to flavour profiles. With the help of Diageo, Broom has devised six flavour camp charts to help beginners and enthusiasts discover whiskies that match their taste. These are split into different styles such as ‘rich and round’ or ‘malty and dry’ and can help readers discover new favourites or step out of their comfort zone completely. Malt Whisky Yearbook – Ingvar Ronde Looking to add some whisky books to your shelves? Then maybe we can point you in the right direction.In the book there are 2 fictional islands of the Outer Hebrides called Great Todday (Protestant) and Little Todday (Catholic) in the year of 1943. While the islanders may have their mild religious clashes (in the book this takes the form of rivalry of which island's people settled there earlier and what their origins are as well as about the observation of Sabbath), they are united on one front: when the provision of whisky starts thinning out and then cut off, the "Drought" affects morale very badly on both Islands, much to the consternation of the snobbish British Home Guard officer, Captain Waggett (who is in mortal fear of losing the war because of the locals' callous behaviour). By 1943, the notes had turned up in London, across the south of England, in Stoke-on-Trent and in the north of Scotland. Geraghty, Christine (2002). British Cinema in the Fifties: Gender, Genre and the 'New Look' . London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-69464-8. Coupe, Rosemary (2010). "The Evolution of the 'Eightsome Reel' ". Folk Music Journal. 9 (5): 693–722. ISSN 0531-9684. JSTOR 25654208. People came from as far afield as Lewis and, according to reports at the time, few if any regarded what they were doing as stealing; the foundering of the ship made its cargo theirs to save under the ‘rules of salvage’.