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The Guga Hunters
£4.99
The Guga Hunters
The Ness men who harvest gannets on a remote Hebridean rock
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About the Ebook
Every year, ten men from Ness, at the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis, sail north-east for some forty miles to a remote rock called Sulasgeir. Their mission is to catch and harvest the guga; the almost fully grown gannet chicks nesting on the two hundred foot high cliffs that circle the tiny island, which is barely half a mile long. After spending a fortnight in the arduous conditions that often prevail there, they return home with around two thousand of the birds, pickled and salted and ready for the tables of Nessmen and women both at home and abroad.
The Guga Hunters tells the story of the men who voyage to Sulasgeir each year and the district they hail from, bringing out the full colour of their lives, the humour and drama of their exploits. They speak of the laughter that seasons their time together on Sulasgeir, of the risks and dangers they have faced. It also provides a fascinating insight into the social history of Ness, the culture and way-of-life that lies behind the world of the Guga Hunters, the timeless nature of the hunt, and reveals the hunt's connections to the traditions of other North Atlantic countries.
Told in his district's poetry and prose, English and - occasionally - Gaelic, Donald S. Murray shows how the spirit of a community is preserved in this most unique of exploits.
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- Discover the Ness men's annual gannet harvest tradition
- Explore one of Scotland's most distinctive cultural practices
- Engage with a vivid account of a remarkable tradition
- Read another celebrated title from Origin - an imprint of Birlinn Ltd
Reviews
'A book worthy to take its place as a classic of its kind' New Shetlander
'Deeply moving' Daily Telegraph
'He writes with an inherent understanding of Highland culture, language and way of life' The Herald
'Mesmerising — beautifully judged' Scots Magazine
'An extremely fine book — wonderful' West Highland Free Press
About the Author
Donald S. Murray was born in Ness in the Isle of Lewis. A teacher, author and journalist, his poetry, prose and verse has been shortlisted for both the Saltire Award and Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. Published widely, his work has also appeared in a number of national anthologies and on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland. He lives and works in Shetland.Publication Details
Publisher: Origin (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd)
Publication Date: 10 May 2018
Print Length: 256 pages (Ebook edition)
ISBN (Ebook): 9780857907653
Format: Ebook
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