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The Hebridean Trilogy #2
The Sea for Breakfast
The Sea for Breakfast finds Miss Peckwitt (as the islanders endearingly pronounce her name) settling into a home of her own on Bruach, and mastering -- with the help, and frequently the hindrance, of her fellow islanders -- such varied arts as peat-cutting, winkle-picking, and beachcombing.
269 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
12 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Lillian Beckwith
47 books73 followersLilian Comber wrote fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children under the pseudonym Lillian Beckwith. She is best known for her series of comic novels based on her time living on a croft in the Scottish Hebrides.
Beckwith was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in 1916, where her father ran a grocery shop. The shop provided the background for her memoir About My Father's Business, a child’s eye view of a 1920s family. She moved to the Isle of Skye with her husband in 1942, and began writing fiction after moving to the Isle of Man with her family twenty years later. She also completed a cookery book, Secrets from a Crofter’s Kitchen (Arrow, 1976).
Since her death, Beckwith’s novel A Shine of Rainbows has been made into a film starring Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielsen, which in 2009 won ‘Best Feature’ awards at the Heartland and Chicago Children’s Film Festivals.
Beckwith was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in 1916, where her father ran a grocery shop. The shop provided the background for her memoir About My Father's Business, a child’s eye view of a 1920s family. She moved to the Isle of Skye with her husband in 1942, and began writing fiction after moving to the Isle of Man with her family twenty years later. She also completed a cookery book, Secrets from a Crofter’s Kitchen (Arrow, 1976).
Since her death, Beckwith’s novel A Shine of Rainbows has been made into a film starring Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielsen, which in 2009 won ‘Best Feature’ awards at the Heartland and Chicago Children’s Film Festivals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 30, 2018
Years ago, I bought “The Hills Is Lonely”. It is seldom I don't recall where. For years, I wondered what the appeal was. General fiction is not my main milieu. In 2016, I reread the synopsis, noted it was humorous, and that it pertained to Scotland. In 2010, I had visited that breathtaking country. One cannot but love this premise: an Englishwoman welcomed into a zany, isolated island community. Lillian Beckwith was hearty and open-minded enough to adapt to backwards logic, sometimes proven suitable to their oceanic location, even though her eyebrows must have been raised all year!
As soon as I knew Lillian had sequels and other work, my goal has been to procure them. “The Sea For Breakfast”, 1961, brings me back to Bruach and a new range of people to enjoy or raise my eyebrows. The authoress became a valued islander, proficient at nearly everything she needed to be and this time, bought a croft. Morgan remained a dear, helpful friend. I would do well with many aspects, including isolation. Indeed, I sympathized with Lillian's few complaints, like villagers disbelieving she enjoyed being alone. The incident of distrusting visitors to take painting seriously, was lovely. Despite boisterous sounds, they painted everything superbly. Our neighbours' vocal dogs make it difficult to build friendships. Back when citizens depended upon one another, they must have had to forge good relations.
Lillian should have been firm with Morgan's nephew. Offense would have been nonsense. He stole from her yard, with the excuse that former owners promised things to him! One criticism about the book itself, is her failure to state which decade it entailed. Based on Lillian owning a car, these might be the 1940s. These memories should be read in order. This unique group grows familiar to their readers, endearingly.
This is made for my reading challenge, "Celtic Coasts"! https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/celtic...
As soon as I knew Lillian had sequels and other work, my goal has been to procure them. “The Sea For Breakfast”, 1961, brings me back to Bruach and a new range of people to enjoy or raise my eyebrows. The authoress became a valued islander, proficient at nearly everything she needed to be and this time, bought a croft. Morgan remained a dear, helpful friend. I would do well with many aspects, including isolation. Indeed, I sympathized with Lillian's few complaints, like villagers disbelieving she enjoyed being alone. The incident of distrusting visitors to take painting seriously, was lovely. Despite boisterous sounds, they painted everything superbly. Our neighbours' vocal dogs make it difficult to build friendships. Back when citizens depended upon one another, they must have had to forge good relations.
Lillian should have been firm with Morgan's nephew. Offense would have been nonsense. He stole from her yard, with the excuse that former owners promised things to him! One criticism about the book itself, is her failure to state which decade it entailed. Based on Lillian owning a car, these might be the 1940s. These memories should be read in order. This unique group grows familiar to their readers, endearingly.
This is made for my reading challenge, "Celtic Coasts"! https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/celtic...
May 5, 2022
3.5 stars. Not as entertaining as the first in the trilogy for me, but still a laidback, easy read that continues the story of “Ms. Peckwitt” as she buys her own croft in Bruach. Her overriding desire for solitude is thwarted at every turn by these gregarious islanders but Lillian stalwartly soldiers forward despite the customs, inconveniences and connivances of this tiny village and its people. I used to think I might want to live out my days somewhere like Bruach, but this book has changed my mind. The peat cutting alone did me in 😉
September 24, 2008
Lillian Beckwith was born in England and travelled to the Hebrides shortly before the Second World War. This book, much like her previous one (The Hills is Lonely) is a semi-autobiographical work of fiction, set in the tiny fictional village of Bruach in the Hebrides Islands. Written in the first person, it's full of "personal" anecdotes and accounts of what life was like for crofters whose lifestyle hadn't changed much since the time of their parents and grandparents. The book is full of charming characters and interesting observations about a way of life that despite being arduous was filled with fun, gaity and the beauty of the sea. This was a fun book to read because of its strong Gaelic flavor and the chance it gave me to take a trip to a distant place and a different time!
May 4, 2020
Another gem from Ms. Beckwith! If you love books that read like stories told from a master story-teller, you will love this collection. I have a fond affection for the Hebrides and Lillian Beckwith brings the people of this region alive. It is chuckle after chuckle from this book.
December 11, 2019
Another fun-filled ride through the Hebrides. I’m so enjoying reading through Lillian Beckwith’s books - they’re like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day!
March 16, 2020
"Miss Peckwit" 's memoirs of her time in the Hebrides were family favorites when I was growing up. My Mom loved them, and so did I and all my sisters. I think I have the full set. Might be time for another reread. I'm not sure which one has the wreck of the "Cabinet Minister", loaded with good whisky bound for America to pay for the War Effort... They're all worthwhile, and 1 or 2 will tell you if you want more. Droll humour, that's the phrase I'm looking for.
November 23, 2018
I don't know why had had not previously heard of Lillian Beckwith or her novels - I guess I had other things on my mind in the sixties ;-)
Anyway, "The Sea for Breakfast" was loaned to me by a neighbour, so I read it quickly. I loved it. Like a reviewer once said of "A Forest for Calum," "a rare thing, funny and poignant."
Beckwith treats her Hebridean neighbours with great affection, while regaling us with their quirks, traits, and folk wisdom. A very funny and warm read.
Anyway, "The Sea for Breakfast" was loaned to me by a neighbour, so I read it quickly. I loved it. Like a reviewer once said of "A Forest for Calum," "a rare thing, funny and poignant."
Beckwith treats her Hebridean neighbours with great affection, while regaling us with their quirks, traits, and folk wisdom. A very funny and warm read.
May 5, 2018
These books are so charming!
May 29, 2021
The second in the series by Lillian Beckwith about her life on the Isle of Skye in the Hebrides. It's semi-autobiographical because in the story Lillian is a middle aged spinster who because of bad health, needed a rest....in real life she was as the story says a teacher who needed a rest due to illness...but she was married when she and her husband moved there.
I enjoyed this second book although I did get annoyed over how the people seemed to take advantage of her especially when she bought the croft. People came as soon as the sale was done to take many, many items that they claimed the previous owner had promised them....and she let them take these items.
She becomes very involved in the life of the village even filling in for a sick teacher, arranging a children's party and adult dance for Christmas and other activities. She had a garden, milked her cow, had chickens, even a lobster trap, cut peat for the winter and more. The fresh air and sea around the island certainly improved her health.
This series is a fun read....and I do have the third one in this trilogy to look forward to.
I enjoyed this second book although I did get annoyed over how the people seemed to take advantage of her especially when she bought the croft. People came as soon as the sale was done to take many, many items that they claimed the previous owner had promised them....and she let them take these items.
She becomes very involved in the life of the village even filling in for a sick teacher, arranging a children's party and adult dance for Christmas and other activities. She had a garden, milked her cow, had chickens, even a lobster trap, cut peat for the winter and more. The fresh air and sea around the island certainly improved her health.
This series is a fun read....and I do have the third one in this trilogy to look forward to.
December 7, 2022
What a delightful telling - a fish out of water in the Scottish Hebrides.
A single English woman tells the story of her encounters with the foreign customs and eccentric personalities that fill her days on a Scottish island.
Don’t miss this book!
A single English woman tells the story of her encounters with the foreign customs and eccentric personalities that fill her days on a Scottish island.
Don’t miss this book!
February 2, 2014
Wer träumt nicht von einem kleinen Cottage direkt an der See gelegen? Lillian Beckwith kauft ein kleines Häuschen auf einer der Hebriden-Inseln. Allerdings ist von Romantik nur wenig zu spüren. Das Leben um 1920 war noch nicht mit dem Komfort von heute gesegnet. So musste man für die Kanne Tee das Wasser aus dem Brunnen holen und wer es im Winter schön warm haben wollte, sollte beizeiten Torf stechen.
Der Roman hat ausgeprägt autobiografische Züge, so ist es kein Zufall, dass die Protagonistin den gleichen Namen trägt wie die Autorin. In amüsanten Episoden beschreibt sie das Leben auf der Insel. Die Charaktere sind sicherlich etwas überspitzt dargestellt, aber sie sind allesamt liebenswert und mit Bauernschläue und einem großen Herzen versehen. Obwohl es unter den Dörflern auch Konkurrenzdenken gibt, wird zusammengehalten und bei Tee oder Whiskey findet man schnell wieder zusammen. Kleine Gaunereien, Schlitzohrigkeit und eine ungekünstelte Sichtweise auf das Leben machen den Reiz der Geschichten aus. Improvisation war an der Tagesordnung und die Ansprüche an Hygiene, waren doch ganz andere.
Die Autorin hat es geschafft, mir die Charaktere bildlich vor Augen zu führen und manchmal hatte ich sogar das Gefühl, dabei zu sein. Leider fehlte für mich der letzte Funke, da mich nicht jede Geschichte intressierte.
Wer sich schon einmal gefragt hat, wie das Leben ohne Supermarkt, fließendes Wasser, Zentralheizung und Online-Shopping funktioniert hat, bekommt hier einen schönen Einblick.
Pluspunkte:
- Die Autorin hat zu dieser Zeit auf einer Hebriden-Insel gelebt
- Die einzelnen Episoden sind amüsant erzählt
- Gute Einblicke in das Leben von anno dazumal
- Das Wesen der Schotten ist gut getroffen
Neutral:
- Nicht jede Geschichte konnte mich begeistern
Negativ:
- ---
Der Roman hat ausgeprägt autobiografische Züge, so ist es kein Zufall, dass die Protagonistin den gleichen Namen trägt wie die Autorin. In amüsanten Episoden beschreibt sie das Leben auf der Insel. Die Charaktere sind sicherlich etwas überspitzt dargestellt, aber sie sind allesamt liebenswert und mit Bauernschläue und einem großen Herzen versehen. Obwohl es unter den Dörflern auch Konkurrenzdenken gibt, wird zusammengehalten und bei Tee oder Whiskey findet man schnell wieder zusammen. Kleine Gaunereien, Schlitzohrigkeit und eine ungekünstelte Sichtweise auf das Leben machen den Reiz der Geschichten aus. Improvisation war an der Tagesordnung und die Ansprüche an Hygiene, waren doch ganz andere.
Die Autorin hat es geschafft, mir die Charaktere bildlich vor Augen zu führen und manchmal hatte ich sogar das Gefühl, dabei zu sein. Leider fehlte für mich der letzte Funke, da mich nicht jede Geschichte intressierte.
Wer sich schon einmal gefragt hat, wie das Leben ohne Supermarkt, fließendes Wasser, Zentralheizung und Online-Shopping funktioniert hat, bekommt hier einen schönen Einblick.
Pluspunkte:
- Die Autorin hat zu dieser Zeit auf einer Hebriden-Insel gelebt
- Die einzelnen Episoden sind amüsant erzählt
- Gute Einblicke in das Leben von anno dazumal
- Das Wesen der Schotten ist gut getroffen
Neutral:
- Nicht jede Geschichte konnte mich begeistern
Negativ:
- ---
April 9, 2019
"The Bruachites were sceptical that Miss Beckwith would be able to settle down in her lonely croft. She was warned with characteristic local earthiness ‘you could die here and none of us would be the wiser till the butcher smelled you out’
But she soon found herself maintaining open house to her delightful neighbours and taking her place alongside them at the local gossiping sessions known as Ceilidhs. Although she did occasionally drop a Hebridean clanger—such as the day she fed the local policemen on trout poached from the laird’s estate."
A charming, humorous set of remembrances of events and people -- all with their characteristics peculiar to Brauchites and the Hebrides. The author has the happy facility of describing the landscape and the town with wit and perspicacity,making her books a joy to read.
But she soon found herself maintaining open house to her delightful neighbours and taking her place alongside them at the local gossiping sessions known as Ceilidhs. Although she did occasionally drop a Hebridean clanger—such as the day she fed the local policemen on trout poached from the laird’s estate."
A charming, humorous set of remembrances of events and people -- all with their characteristics peculiar to Brauchites and the Hebrides. The author has the happy facility of describing the landscape and the town with wit and perspicacity,making her books a joy to read.
September 29, 2017
Brilliant
It was an education on life in the Scottish isles. Very funny by and well written with affection. The local characters - of which there are many all contribute to give the feeling of a slightly mad cap community where each gives as good as they get.
I found myself reading with an Irish accent- entirely wrongly of course .. Great book .
It was an education on life in the Scottish isles. Very funny by and well written with affection. The local characters - of which there are many all contribute to give the feeling of a slightly mad cap community where each gives as good as they get.
I found myself reading with an Irish accent- entirely wrongly of course .. Great book .
October 5, 2017
I had to read and reread the first few pages to decipher the Gaelic language references, but once I got into it, I loved it. Funny, uplifting, laugh out loud. Loved how the community worked together to help each other. Loved the idiosyncratic characters. Reading this was a fun vicarious trip to remote Scotland.
November 15, 2018
Much less patronising and written with a bit more heart and sympathy for the inhabitants of Bruach, the small Hebridean town where Ms Beckwith made her home. It's full of the same sorts of stories as the first volume but it has more of a through-line than that collection as we see many of her neighbours in more than one light.
November 5, 2011
A beautiful setting, wonderful quirky characters, and terrific writing. I highly recommend this one!
May 11, 2012
Charming, funny, and observant.
November 3, 2012
I think this is the 2nd in a series about life in a croft but it's beautifully done. Puts me in mind of Monica Dickens.
September 8, 2013
Beautifully written, this book had me chuckling on the train to work each morning...
July 4, 2016
Truly enjoyable! I really get a kick out of reading Ms. Beckwith's tales about living in Hebrides.
August 31, 2022
Book two in the series and a delightful read. Descriptive and funny and a very good story.
March 3, 2019
such a pleasant read.
When you Live in an urban area, high rised buildings, street full of cars and bikes and rush rush everywhere. It's good to come by a book that appreciates a simple living besides the seashore in a countryside setting, doing daily chores with simple people all around and their simple stories.
Solitude is addictive and this paragraph shows how the author was in love with it.
"Alone-ness is a state not everyone can endure and ' any company is better than no company' is a maxim that is accepted literally whether the company be that of an idiot or a corpse. Not desiring it for themselves, they can neither understand not really believe in the desire for other people for privacy & so genuinely anxious are they that you could not be lonely they continually seek you out of your cherished solitude."
Looking forward to read other books by the same author.
When you Live in an urban area, high rised buildings, street full of cars and bikes and rush rush everywhere. It's good to come by a book that appreciates a simple living besides the seashore in a countryside setting, doing daily chores with simple people all around and their simple stories.
Solitude is addictive and this paragraph shows how the author was in love with it.
"Alone-ness is a state not everyone can endure and ' any company is better than no company' is a maxim that is accepted literally whether the company be that of an idiot or a corpse. Not desiring it for themselves, they can neither understand not really believe in the desire for other people for privacy & so genuinely anxious are they that you could not be lonely they continually seek you out of your cherished solitude."
Looking forward to read other books by the same author.
March 21, 2024
I am re-reading these books after a break of (probably) 20 years, and The Sea for Breakfast has more stories that I recall than The Hills is Lonely: such as the uses for gun-cotton appropriated while beachcombing, the Tinkers, and the Christmas Party.
As a child of the 1980's, staying with relatives during annual holidays in the Western Isles was a sometimes ecstatic, sometimes traumatic, and always memorable experience. So I recognise the hard work of the peat cutting, the single track roads with passing places, the weekly shop at the grocery van, the smoking and drinking, the changeable weather, and the make do and mend approach to life. I wish the characters from my youth were such loveable free-spirits as those who populate these books!
As a child of the 1980's, staying with relatives during annual holidays in the Western Isles was a sometimes ecstatic, sometimes traumatic, and always memorable experience. So I recognise the hard work of the peat cutting, the single track roads with passing places, the weekly shop at the grocery van, the smoking and drinking, the changeable weather, and the make do and mend approach to life. I wish the characters from my youth were such loveable free-spirits as those who populate these books!
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August 19, 2017I see these are now being described as "comic novels". Not sure if that makes them less or more of a guilty pleasure, since the comedy rests squarely with the amusing locals & is not mediated by one or two clunky attempts to give "Miss Beckwith" the low moral ground. (I guess they describe a forgotten world in more ways than one.)
October 4, 2021
Lillian Beckwith's books are funny and simply a delightful read. I read the first book of this trilogy years ago and it's taken me far too long to get to the second book. Thankfully, book 3, is sitting on my shelf, waiting for it's turn on my bedside table.
If you love Scotland, then this is a must read!
If you love Scotland, then this is a must read!
June 11, 2024
A second visit to the fictional village of Bruach where the author records events based on her own experiences of living on Skye at a time when the older way of life still existed. Her descriptions of both the characters and the scenery are wonderful - I love her use of language. (Read on kindle - some favourite phrases highlighted)
May 30, 2025
I loved this beautiful unassuming book about the life in Outer Hebrides. The strong close knit community with genuine affection and their own quirks. The utter lack of guile. The beautiful descriptions of the remote Scottish island filled me with a desire to retire to some such quaint countryside village.
April 30, 2024
Lillian Beckwith is such a wonderful writer. Full of wit and Scottish island life in the mid 20th century, this book still delivers as a cozy, rainy day read. It's remarkably charming. I will read all of her books.
September 14, 2025
A lovely account of life in a small Hebridean village. The author doesn't take anything too seriously, which helps a great deal as she encounters various personalities and challenges in her adopted home.
February 14, 2018
There is no better getaway than a cup of hot tea and this book!! Scotland, take me away! The stories Lillian has about living amongst the Hebredians are precious and heartwarming.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews