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The Last Laird of Coll

by Mairi Hedderwick

ISBN: 9781780270197
Imprint: Birlinn
Publication Date: Sep 2011
Format: Paperback
Price: £6.99
Stock Status: in stock

·    ' “Captures a way of life that is now gone … one that had its own hardships and humour for those who lived through those times.' - Argyll FM

·         'The nostalgia is tinged with irreverence and optimism, ****' - The Scotsman

Kenneth Stewart is the last of the old Lairds of Coll, one of the loveliest of all the Hebridean islands. In this book Mairi Hedderwick, one of the island’s best known inhabitants who has also known the laird since her first visit to the island more than fifty years ago, explores the laird’s lifelong connection with Coll. The love of both for the island and its people shine through in these entrancing recollections. They reveal both the beauty of the island as well as the harshness of island life and the incredible story of how the laird inherited an estate burdened with debt, spending his life trying to rebuild a livelihood from it.

Mairi Hedderwick was born in Gourock. At seventeen she took a job as a mother’s help on the Isle of Coll, beginning a life-long love affair with islands and their small communities. Mairi’s island world is delightfully reflected in the imaginary island of Struay where her perennially popular Katie Morag stories are set. As well as writing and illustrating children’s books Mairi writes and illustrates travel books for adults and the popular series of Hebridean stationery. She lives on Coll.

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