Rural Portraits

Description

SCOTTISH NATIVE FARM ANIMALS, CHARACTERS & LANDSCAPES

Polly Pullar – Illustrated by Keith Brockie

A magnificent journey round Scotland encompassing every breed of Scottish native farm animal, and many of the colourful characters who keep them. Each chapter evolves through the meetings with the people both young and old. It is largely their anecdotes and nostalgia which shapes this fascinating book.

Here for example are tales from the infamous Lairg Sheep Sales, the Perth Bull Sales and the Royal Highland Show. Time is spent with the sea-weed eating sheep of North Ronaldsay, Blackface sheep, Belted Galloway cattle, Highland cattle, Clydesdales and Shetland ponies. There are amusing childhood reminiscences from remote Ardnamurchan, an account of an Ayrshire milking parlour at daybreak, a visit to the atmospheric bothy workshop of an elderly stick-maker, or the story of our newest breed of cattle, the Luing. From up and coming young farmers using embryo-transplant techniques for prime Aberdeen-Angus beef production in Orkney, to crofters in far-flung locations, Rural Portraits is richly varied.

Polly Pullar’s writing is clear, informative and full of anecdotal humour and deep feeling for the countryside. Her vivid images of landscape and the sights and sounds of nature are stunning, perfectly complimented by the 116 detailed images of internationally renowned artist Keith Brockie. This comprehensive and thoroughly readable record of a vital part of Scotland’s heritage is destined to become the definitive work on the subject. This is a book that appeals to a wide audience of varying age groups.