41 review for The Summer Walkers: Travelling People and Pearl-Fishers in the Highlands of Scotland

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Elizabeth – Feb 03, 2016

   Really loved this book, its lavish illustrations and its varied portraits of a wide cross-section of individuals. It felt unbiased in its presentation, although I'm sure that's an error in my own perception. I had one wacky experience in the middle of reading it when, during some description or other of Hamish Henderson turning up to interview people, I *longed* to have done my folklore fieldwork in the middle of the 20th century rather than at the end - just found myself longing for the simple Really loved this book, its lavish illustrations and its varied portraits of a wide cross-section of individuals. It felt unbiased in its presentation, although I'm sure that's an error in my own perception. I had one wacky experience in the middle of reading it when, during some description or other of Hamish Henderson turning up to interview people, I *longed* to have done my folklore fieldwork in the middle of the 20th century rather than at the end - just found myself longing for the simple application of notebook and tape-recorder, willing ears and an isolated community. I am not really an academic folklorist nor a fieldworker and this is kind of a false nostalgia, but it's a testament to the strength of this book that not only does it document the folk culture of the mid-20th century Travellers, but it also documents the folk culture of the scholars who were interested in recording their lore. Impossible for me to read this without bringing my own agenda to it. But it's a loving, honest and thorough collection of individual portraits of people who knew and enjoyed a way of life that has changed drastically in recent years (due to a number of things, but notably changes in transport and education laws). This book also gives a terrific ethnographic overview of the Scottish pearl fishing industry (if you can call it that) in the twentieth century, the factors that caused its demise, and a bit about the ecological state of the Scottish river mussel (now desperately endangered) today.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Elinor – Dec 07, 2020

   Fascinating piece of historical research into two distinct types of summer nomads who once roamed the Scottish Highlands: the "Travellers" who behaved more like gypsies (although they are not Roma gypsies, but ethnic Scots with roots going back to ancient times, often called tinkers); and the "Pearl Fishers" who once made their living by finding pearls in the mussels that thrived in the Scottish rivers (alas, mussels are sadly depleted now and pearl fishing is banned). In the early days, they tra Fascinating piece of historical research into two distinct types of summer nomads who once roamed the Scottish Highlands: the "Travellers" who behaved more like gypsies (although they are not Roma gypsies, but ethnic Scots with roots going back to ancient times, often called tinkers); and the "Pearl Fishers" who once made their living by finding pearls in the mussels that thrived in the Scottish rivers (alas, mussels are sadly depleted now and pearl fishing is banned). In the early days, they travelled by horse and wagon and slept in tents; in the latter years, they drove cars but still camped out. This entire way of life petered out in the 1970s and now most of their descendants are settled in permanent homes. The book made history come alive through the first-person accounts of those who lived through the glory days of travelling around Scotland every summer, and the liberal use of old photographs.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Jimmy – Nov 26, 2012

   My sister lent me this book, good read but what I really enjoyed reading was the section on Beurla Reagaird, I speak it Beurla Reagaird and heard it spoken, but this is the first time I actually see it in print as in a book [It's in the Glossary Section of 'The Summer Walkers'] My sister lent me this book, good read but what I really enjoyed reading was the section on Beurla Reagaird, I speak it Beurla Reagaird and heard it spoken, but this is the first time I actually see it in print as in a book [It's in the Glossary Section of 'The Summer Walkers']

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Morag – Dec 23, 2020

   Wonderful insight into a lost way of life. I've travelled the same roads many times and now i'd like to do it all again with a bow tent instead of a bus. Wonderful insight into a lost way of life. I've travelled the same roads many times and now i'd like to do it all again with a bow tent instead of a bus.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   OTIS –

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Lynn –

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Julia Connor –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Yvonne –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Cathy –

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Harry Christian –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Mayanne Macgregor –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Victoria –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Peter –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Frances Aitken –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Rachel –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Matze –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Sabrina Rutter –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Nicole –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Aimee –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Debbie –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Marion –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Heather –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Alaina –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Viviana –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Mme RX –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Deidre –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Leah –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    Gretel –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Judy –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Gale –

31. 

    5 out of 5

    Moma_jul –

32. 

    4 out of 5

    Julian Patton –

33. 

    5 out of 5

    Rachel Burford –

34. 

    5 out of 5

    Lady Demelza –

35. 

    5 out of 5

    Julia –

36. 

    5 out of 5

    Ronnie Kalmbacher –

37. 

    5 out of 5

    Jena –

38. 

    5 out of 5

    Kellie –

39. 

    4 out of 5

    Richard Hing –

40. 

    4 out of 5

    Jo –

41. 

    5 out of 5

    Lily –