Polly: The True Story Behind 'Whisky Galore'

by Roger Hutchinson

Early on a wartime winter’s morning in 1941, the 8,000-ton cargo ship SS Politician ran aground in the beautiful but treacherous seas of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Among its cargo were 260,000 bottles of whisky destined for the American market – a godsend to the local Eriskay islanders whose home-grown supply had dried up due to wartime rationing.

News quickly spread and boats came from as far as Lewis, and before local excise officer Charles McColl could intervene, more than 24,000 bottles had been 'rescued'. Villages were raided as bottles of whisky were hidden in the most ingenious ways – or simply drunk to get rid of the evidence. Meanwhile, official salvage operations foundered, and in order to pre-vent what the islanders themselves regarded as legitimate salvage, the hull of the Politician was dynamited.

The story is well known through Compton Mackenzie’s bestselling book Whisky Galore and the famous 1949 Ealing comedy of the same name. In this book, acclaimed journalist and Hebridean expert Roger Hutchinson tells the true story of one of the most bizarre events ever to have happened in Scottish waters.

Genres: Nonfiction, Scotland

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2011

Reviews

[Tom Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hugely enjoyable read. I hesitated for a moment between 4* and 5* simply because the subject matter is not really that profound, but it wasn't pretending to be anything other than it was - a super well-researched and highly affectionate telling of a story of what would have been just another grounded ship (no casualties) were it not for the rather special cargo and the very special place where it all happened. The author has a bit of the Joe Garland talent to tell a story with enthusiasm and colour, while so well grounded in painstaking research including so much original voice where possible. Highly recommended, especailly for travellers to the Hebrides :)

[Brian Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainly bought because we were visiting the Outer Hebrides and a number of the tourist attractions referred to Compton McKenzie's film famous 1949 Whisky Galore film . Interesting but rather thin read of what happened . What I did find interesting was the amount of whisky on board - some of it retrieved early on while a large amount remained the bottom of the ocean for many years .

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story, well researched and well written.