Insurrection

Insurrection—Scotland's Famine Winter

When hunger and hardship pushed Scotland toward revolution

About the Ebook

'A gripping, heart-breaking account of the famine winter of 1847' - Rosemary Goring, The Herald

Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize

When Scotland's 1846 potato crop was wiped out by blight, the country was plunged into crisis. In the Hebrides and the West Highlands a huge relief effort came too late to prevent starvation and death. Further east, meanwhile, towns and villages from Aberdeen to Wick and Thurso, rose up in protest at the cost of the oatmeal that replaced potatoes as people's basic foodstuff.

Oatmeal's soaring price was blamed on the export of grain by farmers and landlords cashing in on even higher prices elsewhere. As a bitter winter gripped and families feared a repeat of the calamitous famine then ravaging Ireland, grain carts were seized, ships boarded, harbours blockaded, a jail forced open, the military confronted. The army fired on one set of rioters. Savage sentences were imposed on others. But thousands-strong crowds also gained key concessions. Above all they won cheaper food.

Those dramatic events have long been ignored or forgotten. Now, in James Hunter, they have their historian. The story he tells is, by turns, moving, anger-making and inspiring. In an era of food banks and growing poverty, it is also very timely.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Experience the desperation that gripped Scotland during famine winter
• Discover how ordinary people resisted extraordinary injustice
• Explore a pivotal moment when Scotland nearly erupted
• Read another celebrated title from Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher

Reviews

'A gripping, heart-breaking account of the famine winter of 1847 — Hunter's pacily written history puts a face to thousands upon thousands of gaunt and helpless figures staring out from the pages' The Herald

'Hunter never forgets that history is first of all narrative — Insurrection is fascinating reading, both painful and uplifting' The Scotsman

'No one has done more to help us understand the reality of life in the Highlands and Islands — he gives individual Highlanders a voice. A deeply troubling yet quite uplifting tale' Press and Journal

'The Scottish potato famine was caused by the same blight that brought disaster to Ireland' The Times

About the Author

James Hunter is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Highlands and Islands. He has written extensively about the north of Scotland and about the region’s worldwide diaspora. In the course of a varied career Hunter has been, among other things, director of the Scottish Crofters Union, chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and an award-winning journalist. His book Set Adrift upon the World (Birlinn 2016) was Saltire History Book of the Year in 2016.

Publication Details

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Publication Date: 10 October 2019

Print Length: 304 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781788852319

Format: Ebook

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access my ebook?

Download The Grey Hill App and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.

Can I read it online?

Yes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at reader.thegreyhill.com.

I can't see my ebook — what should I do?

Tap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.

Can I gift this ebook?

Yes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: Buy a Gift Card. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.