Polly

The True Story Behind 'Whisky Galore'

Roger Hutchinson

$19.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Birlinn Ltd
14 June 2024

Film, TV & Radio; True stories; Social & cultural history; Humour; Local history

Early on a wartime winter's morning in 1941, the 8,000-ton cargo ship SS Politician ran aground in the beautiful but treacherous seas of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Among its cargo were 260,000 bottles of whisky destined for the American market - a godsend to the local Eriskay islanders whose home-grown supply had dried up due to wartime rationing.

News quickly spread and boats came from as far as Lewis, and before local excise officer Charles McColl could intervene, more than 24,000 bottles had been 'rescued'. Villages were raided as bottles of whisky were hidden in the most ingenious ways - or simply drunk to get rid of the evidence. Meanwhile, official salvage operations foundered, and in order to pre-vent what the islanders themselves regarded as legitimate salvage, the hull of the Politician was dynamited.

The story is well known through Compton Mackenzie's bestselling book Whisky Galore and the famous 1949 Ealing comedy of the same name. In this book, acclaimed journalist and Hebridean expert Roger Hutchinson tells the true story of one of the most bizarre events ever to have happened in Scottish waters.

'A delightful dram of a book' - Daily Mail

'Fascinating' - Sunday Post

'Riveting . . . a legendary tale, full of humour' - West Highland Free Press

By: Roger Hutchinson
Imprint: Birlinn Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 173g
ISBN: 9781780278506
ISBN 10: 1780278500
Pages: 176
Publication Date: 14 June 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist. In 1977 he joined the West Highland Free Press. His book The Soap Man: Lewis, Harris and Lord Leverhulme was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year in 2004 and Calum's Road was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literatures Ondaatje Prize in 2007.

Reviews for Polly: The True Story Behind 'Whisky Galore'

'A delightful dram of a book' * Daily Mail * 'Fascinating' * Sunday Post * 'Riveting . . . a legendary tale, full of humour' * West Highland Free Press *