The Vital Spark

by Neil Munro

ONE SAVVY SCOT SKIPPER: Ever wonder what it was like to be the Captain of a Clyde Puffer - that is, a steamboat on the beautiful lochs of the Scottish Highlands at the beginning of the twentieth century? Enter now the captivating world of Captain Para Handy and the irascible crew of The Vital Spark, called by it's captain "the best boat in the tread." Join Para Handy, (or, rather, Captain John Macfarlane, his real name) and his crew of characters, the wondrous Hurricane Jack, the effete engineer Dan Macphail, the superstitious ship's mate Dougie, Colin the Tar and his cousin Davie Green. Para Handy loses command of his beloved boat - for a while. Read about a lost child, and the startling fate of a canary. Chuckle over Dougie's payday trouble with his wife. Plus a very odd Scots recipe.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came across this in a bargain bookshop some months ago but after reading the introduction and first couple of pieces put it down. Having read and enjoyed "John Splendid" I thought I would give it another try. The back cover says, "...light fiction, literary short stories, journalism, criticism, descriptive writing and poetry" and this is correct. There are also copious notes by the editors Osborne and Armstrong.

For me I enjoyed the author's short stories and his comic stories but I did not enjoy the poetry, journalism and criticism at all. I especially enjoyed the opening chapters of his unfinished novel "The search" though it was frustrating not to know how it might have ended.

I think I will read the parts I enjoyed again and this may really be a book for dipping into rather than reading from cover to cover. Two stars seems harsh as some parts are great but overall I am afraid two stars it is.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun, pretty niche. If you want to brush up on your Scot's slang and colloquialisms then this is a pretty good shout, although maybe keep in mind there's not much in the way of Glasgow slang, as it's set elsewhere.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of humorous short stories involving Captain Para Handy and his Clyde Puffer, The Vital Spark, the 'smertest boat in the tred!' A delightful read at only 94 pages.

Para (Peter) Handy has been captain on the Vital Spark for more than 20 years. His crew is first mate Dougie, a married man with 10 children and a new one coming every year. The Tar (Colin) their cook who can't seem to stay awake long, even to get married! And Dan, the engineer who is always in the engine room reading penny novels, romances no less! Story is he was in Australia once and killed a man in the bush (two when he's been drinking!) so Para treats him with kid gloves. All of this lends itself to hilarious adventures.