Women of the Hebrides = Ban-eileanaich Innse Gall

by Joni Buchanan

This celebratory work, published on Women's Day 2024, fills a long-neglected gap in Hebridean history. It tells the story of island women – their quick wit and political determination, hands that were deft with the loom and with the gutting knife, strong backs for croft work, endurance through times of tragedy and compassion and fortitude on the frontlines of war and disease.

The women in these pages travel the world, wage war against injustice and nurture their cultural heritage, all the time with two languages on their tongue, a light in their eye and undimmable spirit and humour.

Genres: Nonfiction, Scotland

496 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2024

Reviews

[Sallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not before time! As they say up here. Sadly the church caused a lot of suppression especially of the women.
In the old days the women worked alongside their men, often doing more. They were strong and brave.

Yet no song is sung nor words spoken about those wonderful women untill this timely book arrived.

It is indeed the absent historical record of these women's lives.
A massive book with telling photos, (Rona Lightfoot being squeezed out and bullied for daring to enter the Northern Meeting piping competition).
Extensive Gaelic and English text about all those women who fought, sang, struggled, worked and emigrated.

A true labour of love and such lovely and moving stories from the women's own mouths and hearts, faithfully transcribed.
This is a long overdue eulogy, a mistresspiece.