Eigg: The Story of an Island

by Camille Dressler

. 1998, bright clean copy, no markings, Professional booksellers since 1981

Genres: Nonfiction

211 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Ross Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of two halves. I understand why it has been produced as one book, charting the history of Eigg from prehistory to the present day, but the strength of the book is undoubtedly the second half, with focus on social history, related memory and the detail of the community buy out. The book grows in strength throughout, from what can be perceived as relatively weak beginnings with very brief overviews of Eigg’s prehistoric occupation and medieval history where it feels lacking in analysis and context.

The author’s strengths are clearly in Eigg’s recent history. So much so that the findings of the RCAHMS archaeological survey are reported in the last few pages of the book, chronologically where the survey took place rather than their natural fit in the early pages of the book. Can’t help but feel this is due to the author’s own role in the survey.

There is a feeling of the author ‘doth protest too much’ about how important and integrated incomers to Eigg have been. Many of the voices related come from this community and there are hints in the final chapter that this may not have been as smooth a process as intimated.

The text of the book is tight and the pages large so it can feel challenging to make progress, but on the whole it is accessible and well written, increasingly so as it progresses. It could have done with some more maps and diagrams embedded throughout to show a reader unfamiliar with Eigg where the elements discussed were located.

Despite these drawbacks, this is a fine read and a real eye opener about the nature of land ownership in Scotland as told through Eigg.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reference book to dip into.

[Guido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camille Dressler, the island historian in Eigg, has done a superb job in telling the recent history of her island. The story of the community buy-out, which was successful in June 1997, is told extensively. Since the book was first published, Eigg has made progress at a breathtaking pace, leaving the years of stagnation far behind.

[Diane]

fascinating story of my ancestral land