In Search of Angels

In Search of Angels—Travels to the Edge of the World

A spiritual journey through the world's most remote and sacred places

About the Ebook

Longlisted for The Highland Book Prize 2020

Fourteen centuries ago, Irish saints brought the Word of God to the Hebrides and Scotland's Atlantic shore. These 'white martyrs' sought solitude, remoteness, even harshness, in places apart from the world where they could fast, pray and move closer to an understanding of God: places where they could see angels. Columba, who founded the famous monastery at Iona, was the most well-known of these courageous men who rowed their curraghs towards danger and uncertainty in a pagan land, but the many others are now largely forgotten by history. 

In this book, Alistair Moffat journeys from the island of Eileach an Naoimh at the mouth of the Firth of Lorne to Lismore, Iona and then north to Applecross, searching for traces of these extraordinary men. He finds them not often in any tangible remains, but in the spirit of the islands and remote places where they passed their exemplary lives. Brendan, Moluag, Columba, Maelrubha and others brought the Gaelic language and echoes of how the saints saw their world can still be heard in its cadences. And the tradition of great piety endures.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Travel to the edge of civilization in search of transcendence
• Discover how landscape, faith, and human connection intersect
• Explore questions of meaning and spirituality across cultures
• Read another celebrated title from Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher

Reviews

'A magnificent book about Scotland in dark times — hauntingly lovely, with a message of light that we sorely need today' Sunday Post

'An exploration of Scotland's past through the eyes of a scholarly hiker — his focus is the lives of the early Irish saints who came to Scotland to rescue the country from darkness' New Statesman, Books of the Year

'Part-travelogue, part pilgrimage — a compelling, finely detailed overview of how many Irish monks settled in the north west of Scotland. The marks of these men are still with us, if you know where to look' West Highland Free Press

'Full of insight and passion — both emotional and uplifting' Dundee Courier, Scottish Book of the Week

'Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2020'

About the Author

Alistair Moffat was born and bred in the Scottish Borders. A former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Director of Programmes at Scottish Television and founder of the Borders Book Festival, he is also the author of a number of highly acclaimed books. From 2011 he was Rector of the University of St Andrews. He has written more than thirty books on Scottish history, and lives in the Scottish Borders.

Publication Details

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Publication Date: 08 October 2020

Print Length: 320 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781788853040

Format: Ebook

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