Overview

From local legend, newspaper reports and family history, Alistair Findlay has pieced together a comprehensive documentary of Scotland's shale mining industry; of the people, communities and generations of families involved, and the cultural and political impact of the industry. Enlivened throughout with numerous photographs, drawings, poetry and short stories, this incredible history of human courage, endurance and endeavour will appeal to any reader with an interest in Scotland's social and cultural history.

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9781906307110

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Reviews

'Alistair Findlay has added a basic source material to the study of Scottish History that is invaluable... Scotland owes him a debt of gratitude for undertaking this work.' TAM DALYELL

Alistair Findlay has added a basic source material to the study of Scottish History that is invaluable... Scotland owes him a debt of gratitude for undertaking this work. - TAM DALYELL One of the finest pieces of social history I've ever read. - MARK STEPHEN, The Scottish Connection, BBC Radio Scotland For thousands of people across the country their attitudes, lifestyles and opinions have been formed through an industry which was once the envy of the world... captures the essence of the feeling of the time. - LINDSAY GOULD, The West Lothian Courier Findlay records their voices, as sharp and red as the rock they worked... The result is to recreate the directness, simplicity and power of everyday speech. - JOHN FOSTER, The Morning Star The real and rounded history of the people... important, informative, captivating and inspiring, speckled with hardship and humour, it is well worth a read. - JOHN STEVENSON, Scotland in Unison ... do you not feel echos of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Sunset Song in this man's writing? - WILLIAM WOLDE, Scots Independent

'Alistair Findlay has added a basic source material to the study of Scottish History that is invaluable... Scotland owes him a debt of gratitude for undertaking this work.' - TAM DALYELL 'One of the finest pieces of social history I've ever read.' - MARK STEPHEN, The Scottish Connection, BBC Radio Scotland 'For thousands of people across the country their attitudes, lifestyles and opinions have been formed through an industry which was once the envy of the world... captures the essence of the feeling of the time.' - LINDSAY GOULD, The West Lothian Courier 'Findlay records their voices, as sharp and red as the rock they worked... The result is to recreate the directness, simplicity and power of everyday speech.' - JOHN FOSTER, The Morning Star 'The real and rounded history of the people... important, informative, captivating and inspiring, speckled with hardship and humour, it is well worth a read.' - JOHN STEVENSON, Scotland in Unison '... do you not feel echos of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Sunset Song in this man's writing?' -WILLIAM WOLDE, Scots Independent

Author Information

One of five sons of a shale miner, Alistair Findlay was born in Winchburgh, West Lothian, in 1949. A former local journalist and then editor of the West Lothian Courier, he has a BA (Hons) in Literature and Social History (Open University), an MA in Applied Social Studies (Bradford University), a Certificate (with distinction) in Scottish Cultural Studies (Edinburgh University), and an M Phil (with distinction) in Modern Poetry (Stirling University). He now lives in Bathgate and works as a Senior Social Worker for West Lothian Council. He has just been awarded a SAC Writer's Bursary in order to complete a third collection of poetry and to edit an anthology of the poetry of Scottish Marxism.

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