The Two-Headed Whale

An extraordinary tale of discovery and scientific wonder in Scotland's waters

The remarkable true story of an unusual marine creature found in Scottish seas

About the Ebook

Shortlisted for the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award

In 2016, Sandy Winterbottom embarked on an epic six-week tall-ship voyage from Uruguay to Antarctica. At the mid-way stop in South Georgia, her pristine image of the Antarctic was shattered when she discovered the dark legacy of twentieth century industrial-scale whaling. Enraged by what she found, she was quick to blame the men who undertook this wholescale slaughter, but then she stumbled upon the grave of an eighteen-year-old whaler from Edinburgh who she could not allow to bear the brunt of blame. There are two sides to every story.

The Two-Headed Whale vividly brings to life the spectacular scenery and wildlife of the vast Southern Oceans, set alongside the true-life story of Anthony Ford, the boy in the grave, as he sailed the same seas and toiled in an industry where profits outranked human life.

In this compelling account, Sandy challenges our preconceptions of the Antarctic, weaving in themes of colonialism, capitalism and its link to both environmental and human exploitation. Drawing together threads of nature and travel writing with an unflinching narrative of life onboard a whaling factory ship and the legacy it left behind, The Two-Headed Whale leaves us questioning our troubled relationship with the extraordinary abundance of this planet.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Experience a genuine mystery that fascinated Victorian naturalists and scientists
• Explore Scotland's rich marine biodiversity and natural history
• Discover how curiosity and observation reveal nature's secrets
• Read another celebrated title from Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher

'A triumph of research — a moving and compassionate eulogy for a young man who, without Winterbottom, would have remained anonymous and unremembered' The Herald

'A majestic look at the barbaric heyday of commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean and the lingering consequences for its practitioners and the planet' The Boston Globe

'Compassionate and clear sighted, The Two-Headed Whale brings vividly to life a little-known part of the world, and a little-known part of British history' Malachy Tallack

'A poised, clear-eyed and nuanced exploration of large themes — the writing is affecting and will endure' Kevin MacNeil

'A fascinating blend of fact, fiction, memoir and travel writing that defies categorisation' The People's Friend

About the Author

Sandy Winterbottom spent most of her career as an academic teaching and researching in the Environmental Sciences at Stirling University. In 2010, she left to work in the renewables industry but following a life-changing trip to South Georgia and the Antarctic in 2016, she returned to study and completed the Creative Writing Masters Programme at Stirling University, tutored by Kathleen Jamie. She lives near Muckhart in Central Scotland. This is her first book.

Publication Details

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Publication Date: 06 October 2022

Print Length: 320 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781788855686

Format: Ebook

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