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Isles of the North: A Voyage to the Realms of the Norse First Edition
Author(s): Ian Mitchell (Author)
- Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
- Publication Date: 31 Aug. 2004
- Edition: First Edition
- Language: English
- Print length: 288 pages
- ISBN-10: 1841582980
- ISBN-13: 9781841582986
Book Description
In the summer of 2002 Ian Mitchell set sail aboard the 30-foot yacht Foggy Dew on a voyage that took him from Islay through the Western Isles to Orkney and Shetland, and on to the west coast of Norway. Then, for five weeks, against the backdrop of one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, he sailed from the Nordfjord, via Bergen, to Utsira and back to Britain across the North Sea to Inverness. The object of his journey was much more than simply a desire to enjoy a summer on the open sea. In this sequel to the much acclaimed Isles of the West (1999), Ian Mitchell not only continues his investigation into the unsuccessful attempts by official Britain to administer rural areas for the combined benefit of people and nature, but also widens his scope of enquiry to show how Norway, a country outside the EU and thus free to manage its own affairs, has far more successfully dealt with the same issues on the islands off its western seaboard. The comparisons are striking, and lead Mitchell to consider what Britain can learn from the Norwegian approach. As in Isles of the West, he tells the larger story by way of well researched narrative, the specific experiences of people he met on hi
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
In the summer of 2002 Ian Mitchell set sail aboard the 30-foot yacht Foggy Dew on a voyage that took him from his home Islay through the Western Isles to Orkney and Shetland, and on to the west coast of Norway. Against the backdrop of one of the world s most spectacular coastlines, he sailed up the Nordfjord, down to Bergen, then out to Utsira and back home via Inverness.
The object of his journey was more than just to enjoy a few contemplative drams during a summer at sea. In this sequel to his much acclaimed Isles of the West (1999), Mitchell continues his investigation into official Britain s failure to administer rural Scotland for the mutual benefit of people and nature. He shows how Norway, a country outside the EU and therefore in control of its own resources, has been able to give a wide measure of freedom to the sort of communities which in Scotland are subject to debilitating control by Edinburgh, London and Brussels. He points to many lessons which centralised, bureaucratic Britain could learn from its more democratic neighbour across the North Sea.
As in Isles of the West, Mitchell s narrative combines authoritative background information and personal interviews with local people, many enlivened by the measured dispensation of Scotland s most famous aid to creative thought.
Islay Mingulay Barra Lewis Sula Sgeir Rona Orkney Fair Isle Foula Shetland
Måløy Nordfjord Bremanger Svanøy Lygra Bergen Røvaer Utsira
The object of his journey was more than just to enjoy a few contemplative drams during a summer at sea. In this sequel to his much acclaimed Isles of the West (1999), Mitchell continues his investigation into official Britain s failure to administer rural Scotland for the mutual benefit of people and nature. He shows how Norway, a country outside the EU and therefore in control of its own resources, has been able to give a wide measure of freedom to the sort of communities which in Scotland are subject to debilitating control by Edinburgh, London and Brussels. He points to many lessons which centralised, bureaucratic Britain could learn from its more democratic neighbour across the North Sea.
As in Isles of the West, Mitchell s narrative combines authoritative background information and personal interviews with local people, many enlivened by the measured dispensation of Scotland s most famous aid to creative thought.
Islay Mingulay Barra Lewis Sula Sgeir Rona Orkney Fair Isle Foula Shetland
Måløy Nordfjord Bremanger Svanøy Lygra Bergen Røvaer Utsira
About the Author
Ian Mitchell is the author of Isles of the North (2004) and Isles of the West. He lived for twelve years in Moscow, where he researched his book, Russia and the Rule of Law. He now lives in Campbeltown where he also makes films about books he has read in the course of his research.
