Synopses & Reviews
In 1730, Captain Edmund Burt, an officer of the English army, was sent to Scotland to work as a contractor. He wrote regularly to an acquaintance in London about his experiences. These are vivid, often witty and satirical descriptions of the Highland and Highlanders intended for a wider English audience, to whom the north of Scotland was seen almost as a foreign country Burr had an insatiable curiosity and wrote about cooking and personal hygiene, weddings, funerals, public executions, and even the activities of witches. While he was critical of many things, he draws a very sympathetic picture of the hardship and poverty faced by so much of the ordinary population. Now available for the first time in one volume, his letters are a perfect antidote to England's then often Romantic views of its northern neighbor.
Synopsis
In 1730, Edmund Burt was sent to Scotland to work as a contractor for the government. His work on the military roads opened up the north and gave him unparalleled access throughout the area, allowing him to meet the people of the Highlands and observe their way of life. This book paints a sympathetic picture of the grinding hardship and poverty faced by so much of the ordinary population. Written in a witty and satirical style, this entertaining account is one of the most detailed sources of information on life and customs in the Highlands during the 18th century.
About the Author
Edmund Burt was a Scottish military figure, an engineer, and an author. Charles W. J. Withers is a professor of geography at the University of Edinburgh.