Children of the Black House

Edinburgh, U.K.: Birlinn Ltd, 2004. Soft cover. Near Fine. Clean, tight, unmarked; absolute minimal wear; appears unread; Children of the Black-house is a fascinating glimpse into life on the Hebridean island of Lewis from the middle of the 19th century up to the 1970s in Calum Ferguson draws on his mother Mairead's reminiscences, presenting her experiences and conversation in the first person. This book describes the treadmill of seasonal work on the croft, the all too frequent loss of bread-winners through wars and drowning at sea, but also the richness of the culture: the storytelling, music-making, dancing, inter-dependence of families and the sincere religious faith that sustained the islanders through their trials. This remarkable memoir is a treasury of personal recollections, traditional tales, poetry and songs, and contains a wealth of detail about everyday life on Lewis through those years. It is illustrated throughout with photographs of Mairead, her family and friends, and of the crofting way of life.