Black Friday: The Eyemouth Fishing Disaster of 1881

By Peter Aitchison

Black Friday is the astonishing true story of a coastal community that lost 189 men in a single afternoon. Britain's worst fishing disaster decimated the coastal community of Eyemouth, yet is an almost forgotten part of the past. One hundred and twenty-five years on, this is the story of that storm, told through the accounts of fishermen at sea caught up in the maelstrom, of their families waiting anxiously for news, and of its historical context. At its heart is a gripping narrative of survival and high adventure when Eyemouth was the centre of a massive smuggling ring. Author Peter Aitchison does more than simply spin a good yarn: as a direct descendant, his account of how these fishermen plied their trade, led their lives and met their fate in the 1880s is an insightful and compelling read. Previously published as: Children of the Sea.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Birlinn
• Release date: Apr 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781788851008

Peter Aitchison

Peter Aitchison worked as a news journalist with the BBC for twenty years. He currently works for Glasgow University. He has written a number of books, including The Lowland Clearances: Scotland’s Silent Revolution and The Noblest Work of God.