My journey through the moorland year comes to an end on the Rannoch Moor. #IntoThePeatlands @BirlinnBooks
Next Thursday, 7:00pm Highland Bookshop, Fort William
Looking forward to next Thursday, 7:00pm @HighlandBks #FortWilliam details here: http://www.highlandbookshop.com/events #intothepeatlands @birlinnbookks
“It’s for himself that the cat is purring.”
“It’s for himself that the cat is purring.” With the inimitable Marina Dennis, Tulloch at Grantown-on-Spey Museum. With a basket woven by travellers 60 years ago containing her hand-cut peat and demonstrating cutting with her unique metal peat spade or tuskar.
Peat cutting day/ Latha buain na monadh.
Peat cutting day/ Latha buain na monadh. The May bank holiday weekend is the traditional time for the peats to be cut.
In conversation
In conversation with Stephen Rutt author of ‘The Seafarers’, part of Nature Writing Day at Waterstones StAndrews 25th May featuring Jim Crumley and Amanda Thomson
Highland Bookshop, Fort William 7:00pm 6th June 2019
Robin A. Crawford – Into The Peatlands Thursday the 6th of June 2019 at 7 pm
Following the epic success of “Into The Peatlands” we are delighted to be welcoming Robin A. Crawford to The Highland Bookshop!
About the book:
The peatlands of the Outer Hebrides are half land, half water. Their surface is a glorious tweed woven from tiny, living sphagnums rich in wildlife, but underneath is layer upon layer of dead mosses transforming into the peat. One can, with care, walk out onto them, but stop and you begin to sink into them. For time immemorial the peatlands have been places – for humans at least – of seasonal habitation but not of constant residence.
In this book Robin A. Crawford explores the peatlands over the course of the year, explaining how they have come to be and examining how peat has been used from the Bronze Age onwards. In describing the seasonal processes of cutting, drying, stacking, storing and burning he reveals one of the key rhythms of island life, but his study goes well beyond this to include many other aspects, including the wildlife and folklore associated with these lonely, watery places.
Widening his gaze to other peatlands in the country, he also reflects on the historical and cultural importance that peat has played, and continues to play – it is still used for fuel in many rural areas and plays an essential role in whisky-making – in the story of Scotland.
Tickets for this event will be £5 (includes a refreshment and £2 off a copy of Into The Peatlands).
Next up: Museum, Grantown-on-Spey 24th May
24 May 2019
Book Talk
Robin Crawford will give a talk on his book
“Into the Peatlands”
Long-Listed for the Highland Book Prize 2019
‘Fascinating . . . makes you yearn for a sip of golden whisky whose barley malt has been smoked over a rich, peaty fire’ – Daily Mail
‘Gives a real sense of the surprising cultural importance of peat’ – Scottish Field
‘Injected with enthusiasm and almost lyrical prose. For peat’s sake go and read this for yourself!’ – Dundee Courier
Colonsay Book Festival
Next weekend delighted to be appearing at the Colonsay Book Festival
Tickets are here:
https://www.colonsaybookfestival.com
Nice piece in ‘The Oldie’ here:
https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/colonsay-the-furthest-festival
‘The Nature of Spring’
Delighted to be returning the compliment and chairing Jim Crumley as he talks about his latest book ‘The Nature of Spring‘ in Edinburgh next week. Thurs 11th April Blackwells, South Bridge, Edinburgh. 6:30 pm
Getting ready for upcoming ‘Into The Peatlands’ events
Looking forward to upcoming events:
Aye Write Sunday 24th March 3:00pm Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow with Donald S Murray
Details here: https://www.ayewrite.com/pages/event-details.aspx?event=1/robin-a-crawford-donald-s-murray
Colonsay Book Festival 28th April 1:30pm Village Hall
Details here: http://www.colonsaybookfestival.org.uk/festival/
Look out for details of Highland and Speyside events soon.
