{"product_id":"polly-ebook","title":"Polly","description":"\u003c!-- One-line hook --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe astonishing true story behind one of Scotland’s most famous legends — the shipwreck, the whisky, and the islanders who refused to let good spirit go to waste.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Tagline --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoger Hutchinson uncovers the real events that inspired \u003cem\u003eWhisky Galore\u003c\/em\u003e, revealing a tale even stranger, funnier and more dramatic than the fiction it spawned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ol\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEarly on a winter morning in 1941, the 8,000‑ton cargo ship \u003cstrong\u003eSS \u003cem\u003ePolitician\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e ran aground off the coast of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. Among its cargo were \u003cstrong\u003e260,000 bottles of whisky\u003c\/strong\u003e bound for America — a miraculous windfall for islanders whose own supplies had dried up under wartime rationing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWord spread fast. Boats arrived from as far away as Lewis, and before the authorities could intervene, more than \u003cstrong\u003e24,000 bottles\u003c\/strong\u003e had been spirited away. Whisky was hidden in peat stacks, buried in gardens, stashed in barns — or simply drunk on the spot to destroy the evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs official salvage efforts faltered, the government resorted to dynamiting the ship’s hull to prevent further “rescues”. But by then, the islanders had already written themselves into legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis extraordinary true story inspired Compton Mackenzie’s bestselling novel \u003cem\u003eWhisky Galore\u003c\/em\u003e and the beloved 1949 Ealing comedy. In \u003cstrong\u003ePolly\u003c\/strong\u003e, acclaimed journalist and Hebridean expert \u003cstrong\u003eRoger Hutchinson\u003c\/strong\u003e tells the real tale — funnier, stranger and more dramatic than any fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“An incredible testament to one man’s determination.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e— The Sunday Herald\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Reviews --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCritical Praise\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A wildly entertaining and meticulously researched account of one of Scotland’s most iconic maritime mishaps.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Why You'll Love This Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe true story behind Whisky Galore\u003c\/strong\u003e — richer and more surprising than the myth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA blend of humour, history and Hebridean character\u003c\/strong\u003e from a master storyteller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVivid depictions\u003c\/strong\u003e of island life, wartime hardship and community ingenuity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect for fans of Scottish history\u003c\/strong\u003e, maritime tales and cultural folklore.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA standout Birlinn title\u003c\/strong\u003e from one of the Highlands’ most respected writers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Author --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoger Hutchinson\u003c\/strong\u003e is an award‑winning author and journalist. Formerly an editor in London, he joined the \u003cem\u003eWest Highland Free Press\u003c\/em\u003e in 1977 and has since written extensively for BBC Radio, \u003cem\u003eThe Scotsman\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Herald\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Literary Review\u003c\/em\u003e. His books include the bestselling \u003cem\u003eCalum’s Road\u003c\/em\u003e and the acclaimed \u003cem\u003eThe Soap Man\u003c\/em\u003e, both shortlisted for major literary prizes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Publication Details --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birlinn Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprint:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birlinn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7 March 2024\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrint Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 176 pages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (Ebook):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781780278506\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCategories:\u003c\/strong\u003e Local History \/ Humour\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eI can’t see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here:\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e.\nThe recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Birlinn Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56540701458805,"sku":null,"price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781788856898.jpg?v=1767110284","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/polly-ebook","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}