Items related to The Field of Sighing: A Highland Boyhood
Synopsis
Not a glen or lochan in all the Western Highlands was so aptly named as our hill-farm-Blarosnich-The Field of Sighing. I know of no other stout stone house so buffeted as ours was by the wild winter gales. The winds seemed to life up the house, foundations and all, and then drop it again.
Part autobiography, part fiction, this is a beautifully written story of crofting life in the run up to the Second World War. Set in Ardnamurchan, it is both very different yet complementary to Alasdair Maclean's other book, Night Falls on Ardnamurchan. However, where Night Falls is an elegy to a dying community and way of life, The Field of Sighing is a celebration-not simply of the crofting way of life but also of the astonishing natural beauty of the area, from the magnificence of the mountains and the grandeur of the sea, which form an imposing backdrop to the book, to the intimacy of the meadows and flowers.
The members of the small community around which the author's narrative revolves, particularly his grandmother, "Herself", a figure of immense significance in his life, are superbly characterized. The book is full not only of day-to-day happenings of the community, which are recorded with perception and humor, but also of the folk wisdom and traditions of the area. It celebrates for the west of Scotland the way of life which Sunset Song does for the east and deserves to become as much a classic.
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About the Author
Alasdair Maclean was born in Glasgow of Highland stock. He left school at fourteen to work in the Clydeside shipyards. National Service in the Merchant Marine followed and then service in the British and Indian Armies. He returned to Scotland to read English at Edinburgh University before returning home to Sanna in Ardnamurchan.
Review
"A beguiling picture of Highland boyhood. .." -- Aberdeen Press and Journal
"a deeply felt book...recalls with candor the wayward impulses of growing-up." -- New Statesman
"full of hardness and tenderness, close to mountain, burn and the sea... in its prose there is an ever-present music." -- Punch
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherBirlinn Ltd
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 1841582565
- ISBN 13 9781841582566
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages200
- Rating
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The Field of Sighing: A Highland Childhood
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The Field of Sighing: A Highland Childhood
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Condition: Near Fine. In excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlig hting. The spine remains undamaged. Part autobiography, part fiction, this is a story of crofting life in the run up to the Second World War. Set in Ardnamurchan, it is a celebration - not simply of the crofting way of life, but also of the astonishing natural beauty of the area, from the mountains to the grandeur of the sea, which form an imposing backdrop to the book, to the intimacy of the meadows and flowers. The members of the small community around which the author's narrative revolves, particularly his grandmother, Herself, a figure of immense significance in his life, a cleverly characterized. The work is full not only of day-to-day happenings of the community, which are recorded with perception and humour, but also of the folk wisdom and traditions of the area. Seller Inventory # RWARE0000036488
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The Field of Sighing : A Highland Boyhood
Published by
Birlinn Ltd, 2003
ISBN 10: 1841582565
ISBN 13: 9781841582566
Used
Paperback
First Edition
Seller: Simply Read Books, Boat Of Garten, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: As New. No Jacket. 1st Edition Thus. 2003 Birlinn first edition thus paperback; as new copy, just light storage ageing; UK dealer, immediate dispatch. Seller Inventory # S920e
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The Field of Sighing: a Highland Childhood
Seller: Hadwebutknown, Birnam, PERTH, United Kingdom
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With a new introduction by Ronald Black. Evocative part factual part fictional story of growing up in a croft in the run up to the second world war. Near Fine, softcovers. Seller Inventory # 9393
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