Peat Smoke and Spirit

Peat Smoke and Spirit PDF

Author: Andrew Jefford

Publisher: Headline

Published: 2005-06-06

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13: 9780747245780

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Those who discover malt whisky quickly learn that the malts made on the Isle of Islay are some of the wildest and most characterful in the malt-whisky spectrum. In PEAT SMOKE AND SPIRIT, Islay's fascinating story is uncovered: from its history and stories of the many shipwrecks which litter its shores, to intimate descriptions of the beautiful wildlife, landscape and topography of the island. Interwoven through these different narrative strands comes the story of the whiskies themselves, traced from a distant past of bothies and illegal stills to present-day legality and prosperity. The flavour of each spirit is analysed and the differences between them teased out, as are the stories of the notable men and women who have played such a integral part in their creation. PEAT SMOKE AND SPIRIT is the last word on Islay and its whiskies.

Land of the Ilich

Land of the Ilich PDF

Author: Steven Mithen

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Published: 2021-11-04

Total Pages: 598

ISBN-13: 1788853091

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As an archaeologist, Steven Mithen has worked on the Hebridean island of Islay over a period of many years. In this book he introduces the sites and monuments and tells the story of the island's people from the earliest stone age hunter-gatherers to those who lived in townships and in the grandeur of Islay House. He visits the tombs of Neolithic farmers, forts of Iron Age chiefs and castles of medieval warlords, discovers where Bronze Age gold was found, treacherous plots were made against the Scottish crown, and explores the island of today, which was forged more recently by those who mined for lead, grew flax, fished for herring and distilled whisky – the industry for which the island is best known today. Although an island history, this is far from an insular story: Islay has always been at a cultural crossroads, receiving a constant influx of new people and new ideas, making it a microcosm for the story of Scotland, Britain and beyond.

The Vikings in Islay

The Vikings in Islay PDF

Author: Alan Macniven

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Published: 2015-11-23

Total Pages: 519

ISBN-13: 1788853695

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The Hebridean island of Islay is well-known for its whisky, its wildlife and its association with the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. There would seem to be little reason to dwell on its fate at the hands of marauding Northmen during the Viking Age. Despite a pivotal location on the 'sea road' from Norway to Ireland, there are no convincing records of the Vikings ever having been there. In recent years, historians have been keen to marginalise the island's Viking experience, choosing instead to focus on the enduring stability of native Celtic culture, and tracing the island's modern Gaelic traditions back in an unbroken chain to the dawn of the Christian era. However, the foundations of this presumption are flawed. With no written accounts to go by, the real story of Islay's Viking Age has to be read from another type of source material - the silent witness of the names of local places. The Vikings in Islay presents a systematic review of around 240 of the island's farm and nature names. The conclusions drawn turn traditional assumptions on their head. The romance of Islay's names, it seems, masks a harrowing tale of invasion, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.

In Allegiance

In Allegiance PDF

Author: Kate Islay

Publisher:

Published: 2016-02-17

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 9781523644179

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Mathias commands the Cortesian army, but what he most longs for is home. When his king gifts him with a slave from a conquered princedom, Mathias is intrigued-even as he resists the king's machinations. But Reve soon tests Mathias's allegiance and his heart. Once the son of a prince, now a slave in a foreign land, Reve has few allies in his goal to protect his younger brother from the king. He's forced to navigate the treacherousness of Cortesa and his own conflicted feelings for his captor. Faced with what he most wants, Reve has to make a choice-and Mathias has to make his. An empire stands against them, but Mathias's loyalty to the king may be too much for Reve to conquer.

The Rogue of Islay Isle

The Rogue of Islay Isle PDF

Author: Heather McCollum

Publisher: Entangled: Scandalous

Published: 2017-05-15

Total Pages: 233

ISBN-13: 1633759482

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Cullen Duffie, a Highland warrior and charming rogue, is the new chief of Clan MacDonald. Determined to prove he’s not his father, Cullen works to secure his clan against the English. When a woman washes onto Islay’s shores, Cullen protects her from his uncles’ schemes. Waking up not knowing who she is or where she comes from, Rose is at the mercy of the man who found her. Unable to speak from the swelling around her throat from a rope tether, she learns as much as she can about the new world around her and the powerful, sword-wielding Highlander who has sworn to protect her. Through dreams and flashes of her past, Rose begins to rebuild her memories. But the more she recalls about the horror she escaped, the more she realizes the jeopardy she is bringing to Islay, Clan MacDonald and the Highlander who has captured her heart. Each book in the Highland Isles series is STANDALONE: * The Beast of Aros Castle * The Rogue of Islay Isle * The Wolf of Kisimul Castle * The Devil of Dunakin Castle

Islay

Islay PDF

Author: David Caldwell

Publisher: Birlinn Publishers

Published: 2017-05-25

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 9781780274652

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This is the history of Islay up to the present day with a particular focus on the people of the island. Islay was originally part of Dal Riata, the early kingdom of the Scots, but was then colonized by Scandinavian settlers in the ninth century. It was also the home of the MacDonalds, who established the Lordship of the Isles during the Medieval Period and who mounted a challenge to the Stewart dynasty for control of Scotland. It also looks at the lesser folk, especially during the time of the Campbell lairds, from the early 17th century onwards. Archaeology combined with documentary research has helped to build up a picture of how the people of Islay lived, the way the land was farmed and the development of local industries, including the distilling of whisky.

An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales

An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales PDF

Author: Theresa Breslin

Publisher: Illustrated Scottish Treasuries

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 157

ISBN-13: 9780863159077

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Slithering stoorworms, mischievous brownies, fierce kelpies and magical selkies are exquisitely brought to life for children in Theresa Breslin's enchanting tales and Kate Leiper's otherwordly illustrations.

Raw Spirit

Raw Spirit PDF

Author: Iain Banks

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2013-09-30

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 144818343X

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A fascinating journey through Scotland's famous distilleries with legendary author Iain Banks No true Scotsman can resist the allure of the nation's whisky distilleries. In an absorbing voyage as interesting to non-drinkers as to true whisky connoisseurs, sci-fi and literary author Iain Banks explores the rich heritage of Scottish whisky, from the largest and most famous distilleries to the smallest, most obscure operations. Whisky is more than a drink: it's a culture, a binder that joins together people, places and products far across Scotland's rugged terrain. Switching from cars to ferries to bicycles, Banks crisscrosses his homeland, weaving an engrossing narrative from the strange people, fascinating traditions, and downright bizarre places he encounters on his journey down Scotland's great golden road.