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Para Handy
Para Handy has been sailing his way into the affections of generations of Scots since he first weighed anchor in the pages of the Glasgow Evening News nearly a hundred years ago. The master mariner and his crew—Dougie the mate, Macphail the engineer, Sunny Jim and the Tar—all play their part in evoking the irresistible atmosphere of a bygone age when puffers sailed between West Highland ports and the great city of Glasgow. This definitive edition contains all three collections published in the author's lifetime, as well as a new story never previously published which was discovered in 2001. Extensive notes accompany each story, providing fascinating insights into colloquialisms, place-names and historical events. This volume also includes a wealth of contemporary photographs, depicting the harbors, steamers and puffers from the age of the Vital Spark .
462 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
103 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Neil Munro
153 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
Neil Munro was a Scottish journalist, newspaper editor, author and literary critic. He was born in Inveraray and worked as a journalist on various newspapers.
He was basically a serious writer, but is now mainly known for his humorous short stories, originally written under the pen name of Hugh Foulis. (It seems that he was not making a serious attempt to disguise his identity, but wanted to keep his serious and humorous writings separate.) The best known were about the fictional Clyde puffer the Vital Spark and her captain Para Handy, but they also included stories about the waiter and kirk beadle Erchie MacPherson, and the travelling drapery salesman Jimmy Swan.
Neil Munro was a Scottish journalist, newspaper editor, author and literary critic. He was born in Inveraray and worked as a journalist on various newspapers.
He was basically a serious writer, but is now mainly known for his humorous short stories, originally written under the pen name of Hugh Foulis. (It seems that he was not making a serious attempt to disguise his identity, but wanted to keep his serious and humorous writings separate.) The best known were about the fictional Clyde puffer the Vital Spark and her captain Para Handy, but they also included stories about the waiter and kirk beadle Erchie MacPherson, and the travelling drapery salesman Jimmy Swan.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 17, 2013
Para Handy was the nickname of fictional steamer skipper, Peter MacFarlane, who sailed up and down the west coast of Scotland and the Inner Hebrides with his motley crew in the puffer Vital Spark. The stories were originally published in the Glasgow Evening News.
The characters are wonderful. None more so than Para Handy himself, of course, but you will love the melancholy Sunny Jim who is anything but sunny!
All of the stories are delightful, and provide a lovely insight into the lives of the Highlanders and Islanders, and the influence of the kirk upon their communities.
Each adventure can be read as a stand-alone story, or you may choose to read them as a series from beginning to end of the book.
I put this book firmly onto my Comfort Reads shelf, as I can easily dip in and out and always enjoy.
The characters are wonderful. None more so than Para Handy himself, of course, but you will love the melancholy Sunny Jim who is anything but sunny!
All of the stories are delightful, and provide a lovely insight into the lives of the Highlanders and Islanders, and the influence of the kirk upon their communities.
Each adventure can be read as a stand-alone story, or you may choose to read them as a series from beginning to end of the book.
I put this book firmly onto my Comfort Reads shelf, as I can easily dip in and out and always enjoy.
December 6, 2020
The first complete edition of the Para Handy stories contains 99 stories which originally appeared in the Glasgow Evening News from 1905 until 1924. Each story is only about 3 pages long and usually reflects current events of the time. I've been enjoying these stories for the last 7 months, allowing myself just a few per week.
What makes them so special? The stories are not only humorous but the dialect and the turns of phrase employed by the characters are delightfully comical. After a while you start to hear these Scots sailors in your head exclaiming "My Chove!" or "Chust that!" or "Jerusalem's Crickets!" And of course "Chust sublime," "Chust desperate," and "Brutain's hardy sons."
What makes them so special? The stories are not only humorous but the dialect and the turns of phrase employed by the characters are delightfully comical. After a while you start to hear these Scots sailors in your head exclaiming "My Chove!" or "Chust that!" or "Jerusalem's Crickets!" And of course "Chust sublime," "Chust desperate," and "Brutain's hardy sons."
October 1, 2012
There was nothing I didn't love about this collection of stories. I've just finished it and I feel bereft already. The writing is so warm and clever and funny - hilarious, in fact, and every scene is wonderfully rich in historical detail. It is no exaggeration to say that I believe this book is a work of literary genius.
September 29, 2014
The tattered cover in the image tells you how much I like this book. It helps to be Scottish or to consider one's self partly so, because the dialect and idioms are heavily that way. Delightful reading for anyone, though. The protagonist, Para Handy Macfarlane, Master Mariner, skippers his puffer Vital Spark amongst the islands of the Inner Hebrides and the ports of the west coast. No Captain Bligh, he keeps the crew in line with chaffing. Made into a TV series in Britain.
December 16, 2024
Fabulous collection of stories from the Para Handy series about the crew on a steam puffer travelling up the River Clyde and around the Scottish highlands . I remember these stories being depicted in a tv series back when I was a boy . Great to revisit them again .
April 18, 2023
Probably of little interest to those who are not fortunate enough to be Scots. (Don’t take that too seriously!)
Short stories originally published in a Glasgow newspaper in early 20th century so contemporary reflections on life in the west of Scotland and the puffers going up and down the seas to deliver all sorts of stuff up and down the mainland and the islands before road transport became viable and Amazon didn’t exist.
Peter Macfarlane (Para Handy, anglicised version of Para/Paraig Shandaidh, Peter son of Sandy to distinguish him from all the other Peter Macfarlanes) is skipper of this wee boat.
He’s canny but also naive. He tells tall tales, as seamen traditionally do, but good hearted. Fond of a dram but Wee Free.
Monro thought, like Arthur Conan Doyle, his literary legacy would be his historical novels.
Instead he’s remembered (if only in Scotland) for these humorous stories that cast an eye on the social history of the west coast.
Short stories originally published in a Glasgow newspaper in early 20th century so contemporary reflections on life in the west of Scotland and the puffers going up and down the seas to deliver all sorts of stuff up and down the mainland and the islands before road transport became viable and Amazon didn’t exist.
Peter Macfarlane (Para Handy, anglicised version of Para/Paraig Shandaidh, Peter son of Sandy to distinguish him from all the other Peter Macfarlanes) is skipper of this wee boat.
He’s canny but also naive. He tells tall tales, as seamen traditionally do, but good hearted. Fond of a dram but Wee Free.
Monro thought, like Arthur Conan Doyle, his literary legacy would be his historical novels.
Instead he’s remembered (if only in Scotland) for these humorous stories that cast an eye on the social history of the west coast.
December 19, 2018
"Chust sublime." as the skipper would say. Loved these stories. Loved the characters, the dialect, the " high jeenks". So very funny. My favorite chapter was "The Goat" about the small policeman Wully Crawford who was so wily he could make an offender come in to the jail of his own accord, even the biggest bruiser of a bad guy. Hilarious stuff. Para Handy is one of those fictional characters like Jeeves or Miss Marple that I wish were real, the world is just that much more bearable because of them.
November 25, 2014
A Scottish classic both as a book and a TV series - the first if my memory serves me right. I can just remember the puffers coming to Ardrishaig in Argyllshire and the book evokes those memories. it is also funny both laugh aloud and as a continuing motif in the writing. No library should bewithout Para Handy.
July 29, 2010
Absolutely essential/hilarious for anyone with any Glasgow connection. Timeless humour at it's best, as well as an affectionate glance back into a not-so-long ago forgotten age.
February 14, 2013
"If Dougie wass here he would tell ye that himsel'"
December 30, 2021
Although running from about 1905 to the end of World War I and perhaps a bit later, these tales are still quite fresh and charming. I watched the 1960s TV series as a child and have fond memories. My cycling chum Keith Smith, a Scot, leant me the book and I only occasionally found the dialect words a puzzle. Also, now that I have visited quite a few of the mostly tiny ports mentioned, I have a much clearer idea of the landscape and the importance of boats. When we visited Inveraray a recreation of The Vital Spark was moored at the quay. I was charmed.
September 26, 2018
Today I sadly finished this Brilliant book.
I tried reading an older version of these stories some years ago but it was to linguistically complex.
But this edition is a marvelous read, some of the funniest stories I ever read.
I can remember the TV series and all the characters.
One has to remember that these stories were written 100 years ago and are inspired by Neil Munro's perception of the world, and for an audience who would understand that world view. I find it fascinating how the stories reflect the simplicity, yet how hard the times and lives of folk, or how complex we've made our lives.
I tried reading an older version of these stories some years ago but it was to linguistically complex.
But this edition is a marvelous read, some of the funniest stories I ever read.
I can remember the TV series and all the characters.
One has to remember that these stories were written 100 years ago and are inspired by Neil Munro's perception of the world, and for an audience who would understand that world view. I find it fascinating how the stories reflect the simplicity, yet how hard the times and lives of folk, or how complex we've made our lives.
July 5, 2019
Originally written as sketches for the Glasgow Evening News, the Para Handy stories inspired Ealing film ‘The Maggie’ and two BBC serials. They also eclipsed the popularity of Munro’s serious literary novels, much to his chagrin. At their best, the stories are sharp, witty and evocative. The less successful ones seem rushed. Cramming all eighty-odd of them into one volume - they were originally published in three collections - emphasises their ‘sameyness’.
August 26, 2023
Chust sublime.
Not only are the stories themselves a gentle delight from a bygone era, full of well-kent characters from the West Coast, but the notes are full of detail and almost essential reading. They provide a lot of context -- geographical, political and cultural -- for the stories, such that this becomes not just a set of short, fun adventures, but a window into the age of steam, when the Clyde was the place to be.
Not only are the stories themselves a gentle delight from a bygone era, full of well-kent characters from the West Coast, but the notes are full of detail and almost essential reading. They provide a lot of context -- geographical, political and cultural -- for the stories, such that this becomes not just a set of short, fun adventures, but a window into the age of steam, when the Clyde was the place to be.
March 5, 2025
Fun Diction and Light Laughs
This is a great little reading, light-hearted characterization through some ingenious rendering of local Scots (as far as I can tell). There's a bit of O. Henry-like revelation of character and unexpected twist. All the pieces are very short. Annotations are serious and meticulous, which is sometimes part of the humor, though unintentional.
This is a great little reading, light-hearted characterization through some ingenious rendering of local Scots (as far as I can tell). There's a bit of O. Henry-like revelation of character and unexpected twist. All the pieces are very short. Annotations are serious and meticulous, which is sometimes part of the humor, though unintentional.
August 21, 2025
Para Handy is captain of Vital Spark, a tramp steamer plying Loch Fyne and the Clyde. A light-hearted collection of -- often very amusing -- short stories about this life, written over a century ago.
December 1, 2017
Glorious fun :)
January 25, 2014
We are not all gritty kitchen sink social realism in Scotland! Neil Munro's tales of the crew of the 'on-its-last-legs' boat "The Vital Spark" sees Para Handy, the skipper, (if I remember rightly 'Para Handy' is the Gaelic name for the skipper, Peter) and his crew of Dougie the first mate (a man who puts the super into superstitious"!), Dan McPhail the engineer and Sunny Jim the deck hand, who lives up to his name in name only!
The Vital Spark plies its trade (barely) on the River Clyde, and up and down the West Coast of Scotland. It visits all the Firth of Clyde places of my childhood - Dunoon, Rothesay, Inellan, Millport etc. !!
The desperate, barely seaworthy, state of the boat is pretty much matched by their sea-skills! But much as the chaotic and shambolic situations they get themselves into are hilarious, what is really special about the stories are the characters themselves from the tight-as-a-duck's-arse, crafty, Para Handy to the slightly camp, slightly effeminate engineer Dan, with his mutual love of engines and bodice-ripper paperback stories!!
They made it into a television series in Scotland and the Para Handy role was played by a masterful Scottish actor called Roddy McMillan.
When I re-read the books after the TV series all I could see and hear in my head was the indignation on the face and in the tone of the voice of McMillan at the latest scandalous remark from the hapless Dan McPhail!
I chose Para Handy Tales as one of ten books that represent my country, Scotland. If you'd like to read about the others you can find them at http://theonlywayisreading.com/2013/1...
The Vital Spark plies its trade (barely) on the River Clyde, and up and down the West Coast of Scotland. It visits all the Firth of Clyde places of my childhood - Dunoon, Rothesay, Inellan, Millport etc. !!
The desperate, barely seaworthy, state of the boat is pretty much matched by their sea-skills! But much as the chaotic and shambolic situations they get themselves into are hilarious, what is really special about the stories are the characters themselves from the tight-as-a-duck's-arse, crafty, Para Handy to the slightly camp, slightly effeminate engineer Dan, with his mutual love of engines and bodice-ripper paperback stories!!
They made it into a television series in Scotland and the Para Handy role was played by a masterful Scottish actor called Roddy McMillan.
When I re-read the books after the TV series all I could see and hear in my head was the indignation on the face and in the tone of the voice of McMillan at the latest scandalous remark from the hapless Dan McPhail!
I chose Para Handy Tales as one of ten books that represent my country, Scotland. If you'd like to read about the others you can find them at http://theonlywayisreading.com/2013/1...
December 29, 2012
Just been given this edition of Munro's tales as a Christmas present - what a treat! I read a lot of these stories some twenty years ago as a callow youth, I enjoyed them then but having now dipped into them again as a man of 'a certain age' I find them even more of a hoot.
These stories are little gems told in a mere four to five pages. But in that wee span of print they cover the trials, tribulations, triumphs and failures of the working man. Relationships with bosses; owners; competitors; womenfolk at home (wives and girlfriends - may they never meet!); the authorities ( in the shape of harbour masters, policemen, gamekeepers, excisemen) produce rich humour. As do the relationships within the crew of that finest of vessels, 'The Vital Spark'.
Para would tell you that these tales are ' chust sublime' and Dougie would tell you the same if he were here!
Having an acquaintance with the west coast of Scotland heightens the pleasure for me but such affinity is not necessary to enjoy these wonderful stories.
These stories are little gems told in a mere four to five pages. But in that wee span of print they cover the trials, tribulations, triumphs and failures of the working man. Relationships with bosses; owners; competitors; womenfolk at home (wives and girlfriends - may they never meet!); the authorities ( in the shape of harbour masters, policemen, gamekeepers, excisemen) produce rich humour. As do the relationships within the crew of that finest of vessels, 'The Vital Spark'.
Para would tell you that these tales are ' chust sublime' and Dougie would tell you the same if he were here!
Having an acquaintance with the west coast of Scotland heightens the pleasure for me but such affinity is not necessary to enjoy these wonderful stories.
June 25, 2008
Hilarious. this book is so funny that things came down my nose .
Greqat stories , superb characterisation and jokes and themes with ancient folk tale twists .
The crew of the Vital Spark are all the classic clowns
the pompous captain with his naive native wit
the mate Dougie ,a sulking child
macPhail the council house snob who thinks he is an engineer
the Tar a characature of the "Idle Highlander" who is as strong as a horse
and Lucky Jim the cabin boy and clown of the outfit.
read these stories at your peril
Greqat stories , superb characterisation and jokes and themes with ancient folk tale twists .
The crew of the Vital Spark are all the classic clowns
the pompous captain with his naive native wit
the mate Dougie ,a sulking child
macPhail the council house snob who thinks he is an engineer
the Tar a characature of the "Idle Highlander" who is as strong as a horse
and Lucky Jim the cabin boy and clown of the outfit.
read these stories at your peril
November 29, 2016
Captain Peter Macfarlane (aka Para Handy) and his ship SS Vital Spark (smertest ship in the tred) have been making Scots laugh for over a hundred years, and it's about time the rest of us caught on. Shrewdly observed character humour (leavened with topical gags that may need footnotes nowadays) are the staple of these classic short stories by Neil Munro. They evoke the long-gone world of the Clyde steamers and the men who sailed them. The humour is wry rather than laugh out loud, but the cumulative effect is most enjoyable. "We put into Greenock for marmalade, and did we no stay three days?"
May 24, 2020
I have been a fan of Para Handy since I saw the Vital Spark TV series back in the 1960s. I have also read the tales many many times over the years. This edition contains 19 previously unpublished stories which are worth a read though to be fair none of them are as good as the previously published stories. There are lots of notes in this edition some of which I found odd or irrelevant but there's no need to read the notes just enjoy the stories!
December 2, 2012
A hilarious, rip-roaring book of tall tales of the sea, with many an expression that made it into common parlance, if only in Scotland. The Vital Spark, with its captain ever ready to give a 'lek of pent on the lum', the 'smertest boat in the tred'; the engineer and his penny novelettes; the mate 'wait till I ask Dougie, he'll tell you' and his dozen offspring; the Tar, and Sunny Jim and his side-splitting tale of the vanishing sausages.
April 2, 2022
I guess it’s a bit like Trainspotting, (without the drugs) written in dialect so a bit difficult at first, but after a while you get into it. Lots and lots of short stories taking you back to simpler times, about a tug boat and it’s crew. They probably don’t write ‘em like this anymore, so fill your boots.
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April 11, 2010Para Handy by Neil Munro (1999)
September 19, 2010
Read this many times and it still makes me laugh. Used to watch the 'puffer' they used to make the films puffing up and down the Clyde as a child...
December 16, 2016
First read this book when i was about 10 after my Dad gave me it, since then i have read it on average every 6/7 years and still one of the funniest heartwarming books i've read.
July 12, 2017
Engaging tales of bygone Inner Hebrides puffer. Scots dictionary essential.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews