‘Palpably exciting narrative – lyrical, compelling, earthy, always readable, and often surprising. Nicolson’s book is an adventure story with Hemingway highs and is also unselfconscious, wonderfully idiosyncratic, and, above all, beautifully written.’
GEORDIE GREIG, Literary Review
‘A passionate account of the Shiants with a lyricism that brings the islands to life.
CHRISTOPHER BLAND, Sunday Telegraph
‘He conjures the numinous spirit of the place in long, lyric stretches and weaves a vivid tapestry of people and events.’
EMMA CRICHTON-MILLER, Evening Standard
‘A wise, witty, enlightening, enchanting book’
ALAN GURNEY, Times Literary Supplement
‘A fine storyteller’
COLE MORETON, Independent on Sunday
‘Beautifully written’
BRIAN CASE, Time Out
‘Enthralling throughout’
SIMON HALL, Independent
‘A passionate evocation of the Shiants which catches you up in its intelligence as well as its enthusiasm, and fills you with homesickness for a place you’ve never been to. Nicolson writes so well, with such modesty and deep feeling, that the book fairly sings in your hands.’
WILL COHU, Daily Telegraph