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Ata que os mares sequen: Unha Escocia en clave galega
Ata que os mares sequen é un libro sobre Escocia para ler antes de consultar as guías… ou despois de esquecelas. Un ensaio literario que reivindica o Atlántico como espazo compartido e propón unha ollada adulta, crítica e contemporánea, máis alá dos mitos románticos do século XIX, sobre quen somos cando nos miramos desde a outra beira do mar.
A través de paisaxes húmidas, músicas comúns, vellos relatos e episodios esquecidos da historia europea, Manuel Gago percorre Escocia no espazo e no tempo para explorar as profundas resonancias culturais, históricas e emocionais entre Galicia e o mundo atlántico. Escocia non aparece aquí como un lugar exótico, senón como un territorio sorprendentemente familiar, que nos devolve preguntas incómodas sobre identidade, memoria, poder e futuro.
A través de paisaxes húmidas, músicas comúns, vellos relatos e episodios esquecidos da historia europea, Manuel Gago percorre Escocia no espazo e no tempo para explorar as profundas resonancias culturais, históricas e emocionais entre Galicia e o mundo atlántico. Escocia non aparece aquí como un lugar exótico, senón como un territorio sorprendentemente familiar, que nos devolve preguntas incómodas sobre identidade, memoria, poder e futuro.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2026
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July 13, 2026
First, a disclaimer: I've known the author since 1994. I wouldn't call him a friend, but rather an acquaintance for whom I have a great deal of affection. And a second disclaimer: although I was born in Galicia, I spent the best part of my life in Scotland—fourteen fruitful and happy years. So I would consider myself part of the target audience for this book. But perhaps I'm mistaken, and I was never the intended audience in the first place.
I can't deny that I enjoyed this essay, at least for the first hundred pages. For me, it was a return to places I had visited and loved, particularly the Roman camps along Hadrian's Wall.
However, despite some genuinely interesting connections between Scotland and Galicia, the book ultimately feels overly long and unbalanced. It is unbalanced because it does not portray contemporary Scotland, but one that is long gone. The narrative seems to stop in the mid-nineteenth century, and any references to later periods feel merely incidental. The mid-nineteenth century was the height of Romanticism, and indeed the book reflects a highly romanticised and conventional vision of both Scotland and Galicia—one with which I could hardly disagree more.
I understand that the author is an archaeologist, if not by profession, then certainly by passion. Even so, I think the book would have been more honest if the title had made it clear that more than half of it is devoted to archaeology and ancient history. In this respect, the elusive question of Galician Celticity (and, to be fair, Scotland's as well) is treated in an overly romanticised way. The author hints at conclusions without fully committing to them, while criticising opposing views without offering particularly convincing arguments.
My own knowledge of Scotland, although limited, was enough to lessen the sense of discovery. I did not learn very much. On the other hand, some of the Galician parallels—such as the comparison between Queen Isabella II's visit and George IV's earlier visit to Edinburgh—were genuinely interesting.
I kept reading in the hope of eventually reaching modern Scotland—and Glasgow in particular—but to no avail. Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is mentioned only once, and only in passing. The most recent historical event discussed is probably the Highland Clearances, which are described accurately but also rather gently, never quite letting go of that romanticised vision of Scotland.
I can't deny that I enjoyed this essay, at least for the first hundred pages. For me, it was a return to places I had visited and loved, particularly the Roman camps along Hadrian's Wall.
However, despite some genuinely interesting connections between Scotland and Galicia, the book ultimately feels overly long and unbalanced. It is unbalanced because it does not portray contemporary Scotland, but one that is long gone. The narrative seems to stop in the mid-nineteenth century, and any references to later periods feel merely incidental. The mid-nineteenth century was the height of Romanticism, and indeed the book reflects a highly romanticised and conventional vision of both Scotland and Galicia—one with which I could hardly disagree more.
I understand that the author is an archaeologist, if not by profession, then certainly by passion. Even so, I think the book would have been more honest if the title had made it clear that more than half of it is devoted to archaeology and ancient history. In this respect, the elusive question of Galician Celticity (and, to be fair, Scotland's as well) is treated in an overly romanticised way. The author hints at conclusions without fully committing to them, while criticising opposing views without offering particularly convincing arguments.
My own knowledge of Scotland, although limited, was enough to lessen the sense of discovery. I did not learn very much. On the other hand, some of the Galician parallels—such as the comparison between Queen Isabella II's visit and George IV's earlier visit to Edinburgh—were genuinely interesting.
I kept reading in the hope of eventually reaching modern Scotland—and Glasgow in particular—but to no avail. Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is mentioned only once, and only in passing. The most recent historical event discussed is probably the Highland Clearances, which are described accurately but also rather gently, never quite letting go of that romanticised vision of Scotland.
Displaying 1 of 1 review