Author Description

"In 1996 Ian Mitchell made a three-month voyage around the Hebrides... in which he explores the major issues peculiar to the islands at the dawning of a new century. How does land reform, for example, look from the point of view of the islanders? Does nature conservation actually help the environment? Is the commercial promotion of 'heritage' a blessing or a curse? Underlying the seductive feeling of freedom that comes from making long voyages in small boats is the nagging worry that alien forces, both Scottish and European, sentimental and mercenary, are distorting the indigenous society by imposing outside ideas on communities which are valued in part because they are so free of external pressures. In this updated edition... Mitchell identifies and analyses the policies of these bodies, both public and private, who want to save the islands from the islanders themselves"--Publisher's description.