The Guga Hunters
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
‘Deeply moving’ - Will Self, Daily Telegraph
‘He writes with an inherent understanding of Highland culture, language and way of life’ - Herald
‘Mesmerising. When I closed this book I was left with the feeling that Donald S. Murray had been paring away layers of centuries of life in Ness for my benefit ... Beautifully judged’ - Jim Crumley, Scots Magazine
Every year, ten men from Ness, at the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis, sail north-east for some forty miles to a remote rock called Sulasgeir. Their mission is to catch and harvest the guga; the almost fully grown gannet chicks nesting on the two hundred foot high cliffs that circle the tiny island, which is barely half a mile long. After spending a fortnight in the arduous conditions that often prevail there, they return home with around two thousand of the birds, pickled and salted and ready for the tables of Nessmen and women both at home and abroad.
The Guga Hunters tells the story of the men who voyage to Sulasgeir each year and the district they hail from, bringing out the full colour of their lives, the humour and drama of their exploits. They speak of the laughter that seasons their time together on Sulasgeir, of the risks and dangers they have faced. It also provides a fascinating insight into the social history of Ness, the culture and way-of-life that lies behind the world of the Guga Hunters, the timeless nature of the hunt, and reveals the hunt’s connections to the traditions of other North Atlantic countries.
Told in his district’s poetry and prose, English and - occasionally - Gaelic, Donald S. Murray shows how the spirit of a community is preserved in this most unique of exploits.
Donald S. Murray
Donald S. Murray was born in Ness in the Isle of Lewis. A teacher, author and journalist, his poetry, prose and verse has been shortlisted for both the Saltire Award and Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. Published widely, his work has also appeared in a number of national anthologies and on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland. He lives and works in Shetland.
Read more from Donald S. Murray
The Guga Hunters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Stuff: Stories from the Peatlands Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Guga Stone: Lies, Legends and Lunacies from St Kilda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHerring Tales: How the Silver Darlings Shaped Human Taste and History Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Salt and the Flame: A Times Book of the Month Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Call of the Cormorant Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn a Veil of Mist Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAs the Women Lay Dreaming Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Guga Hunters
Related ebooks
Sea-Birds Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWestern Isles Folk Tales Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Isles of Scilly Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhite Harvest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5England & Wales Island Bagging: A guide to adventures on the islands of England, Wales, the Channel Islands & the Isle of Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Joy of Angling in Scotland - A Selection of Classic Articles on the Best Fishing Locations in Scotland (Angling Series) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShort Sketches from Oldest America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShetland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Far from Land: The Mysterious Lives of Seabirds Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5RSPB Migration Hotspots: The World's Best Bird Migration Sites Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Moravians in Labrador Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIreland's Seashore: A Field Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoyages in Search of the North-West Passage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlaces to Fish in Britain and Ireland - Footloose With a Fishing Rod Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOyster: A Gastronomic History (with Recipes) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Islands of Scotland Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLochs & Loch Fishing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPike Fishing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNorthern Mists Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sport of Chub Fishing - A Selection of Classic Articles on the History and Techniques of Angling (Angling Series) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWithin the Deep Cassell's "Eyes and No Eyes" Series, Book VIII. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLion Ben of Elm Island Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Happy Little Island Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFoundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nights With an Old Gunner and Other Studies of Wild Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Arctic Diaries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLoons: The Iconic Waterbirds Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5RSPB Seabirds Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secrets of Angling Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Sports & Recreation For You
How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revis Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rugby For Dummies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Getting to Neutral: How to Conquer Negativity and Thrive in a Chaotic World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Master Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peak: The New Science of Athletic Performance That is Revolutionizing Sports Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons And Teachings From A Lifetime In Golf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Body by Science: A Research Based Program to Get the Results You Want in 12 Minutes a Week Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for ANY Disaster Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Field Guide to Knots: How to Identify, Tie, and Untie Over 80 Essential Knots for Outdoor Pursuits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStrength Training for Women: Training Programs, Food, and Motivation for a Stronger, More Beautiful Body Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate BodyWeight Workout: Transform Your Body Using Your Own Body Weight Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5A Guide to Improvised Weaponry: How to Protect Yourself with WHATEVER You've Got Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hard Knocks: An enemies-to-lovers romance to make you smile Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anatomy of Strength and Conditioning: A Trainer's Guide to Building Strength and Stamina Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pocket Guide to Essential Knots: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Most Important Knots for Everyone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe MAF Method: A Personalized Approach to Health and Fitness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Pickleball: Techniques and Strategies for Everyone Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for The Guga Hunters
0 ratings0 reviews