Publisher’s Note

I first met Stuart Donald in 1992 in that bastion of Cowal bookselling, Fiona and Gregor Roy’s Bookpoint in Dunoon, and after we got talking he mentioned that he was working on some Para Handy stories, written in Munro’s style and set in authentic West Coast locations. In that wonderful timbre which he exuded when taking someone into a confidence he lowered his head to my level and murmured conspiratorially, “I can’t expect them to compare with Munro’s originals, but I think they are fairly good!”

Some sample stories duly arrived and it did not take me long to agree with Stuart’s belief. They were very good stories indeed. We agreed that there should be a trilogy of tales brought out a couple of years apart under the titles Para Handy Sails Again, Para Handy All At Sea and Para Handy At The Helm. The first two books sold quickly and reprinted, but sadly, the final volume never made it to press. In September 2000 Stuart lost a long and brave battle against cancer.

My quandary was what to do with Stuart’s literary legacy and after taking advice from both Gregor and Stuart’s wife, Maureen, I decided to reissue the first two books as a compendium volume in order to maintain the corpus. This is it and I am proud to publish it.

Stuart wrote of Munro’s creation in Para Handy Sails Again, “Nobody could ever manage to recreate that world with the same matchless quality of craftsmanship, affection or accuracy. My hope is that my own efforts in that direction will entertain rather than irritate, and provide an acceptable extension to the Para Handy repertoire.”

Well, Stuart’s misgivings were unfounded as he did manage to recreate Para Handy’s world and his stories have irritated no one. Long may they remain in print.

Neil Wilson, September 2001