Synopses & Reviews
In 1864 the poet, essayist, and novelist Alexander Smith spent six weeks exploring the island of Skye, resulting in a book that is widely regarded as his masterpiece. Perceptive and insightful, this new edition provides Smith's detailed accounts of the islanders at work and play, their customs, folklore, and the incidental details of everyday living. Vivid and magnificent descriptions of island culture shape this classic memoir of 19th-century Skye.
Review
"For the lover of the mountains, of surf, of moorland and river, for the lover of people as they were and as they are, for the lover of poetry of eternal truths, A Summer in Skye is the book to read." —William F. Laughlan
Synopsis
In 1864, Alexander Smith, poet and essayist, spent six weeks on the Isle of Skye. These weeks were among the most contented of his life and in this book, his magnificent prose poem, the reader will discover a celebration of the Skye life, scenery, and history that was to bewitch him as he uncovered the subtle and mystical charm of the island. A keen observer of life, the author portrays the islanders, both at work and at play, and the customs that have now died out. His descriptions of the island and its landscape remain among the finest ever written.
About the Author
Alexander Smith was an author, a poet, and the secretary of Edinburgh University. He is the author of Alfred Hagart's Household, City Poems, Dreamthorp, Edwin of Deira, A Life-Drama and Other Poems, and Sonnets on the Crimean War.