The Immortal Isles

The Immortal Isles was Seton Gordon's 9th book and one of his finest The book recounts how the outer Hebridean native, isolated from the burgeoning modern world, had remained inextricably coupled with the natural world.  The Gaelic inhabitants live with and accept the unforgiving landscape as well as the wildlife that surounds them providing them with a source for their poetry, song and story telling.

As Seton Gordon travelled up and down the islands he made a record of the folklore whilst at the same time photographing the wildlife and each Island's landscape. In his introduction he writes that: "the people of the Isles, in their simplicity, dignity and charm, are a race apart." 

The book remains an important work and an attempt to preserve the story of the traditions of the Islands published at a time when many Islanders were still emmigrating to the other side of the Atlantic ocean.

Seton Gordon (1886-1977) was a Scottish naturalist, photographer, and writer who is best known for his extensive work on the wildlife and landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. He was born into a wealthy family and grew up in a privileged environment in Aberdeen, but he developed a love for nature and the outdoors at a young age.

Gordon began his career as a naturalist in the early 1900s, when he started exploring the remote and rugged areas of the Scottish Highlands. He was particularly interested in the birdlife of the region and became an expert in ornithology, studying the behavior and ecology of birds such as eagles, falcons, and ptarmigans.

In addition to his fieldwork, Gordon was also an accomplished photographer and took many stunning photos of the Scottish landscapes and wildlife. His photographs were widely published in newspapers, magazines, and books, and helped to raise public awareness of the beauty and biodiversity of the Highlands.

Gordon's most famous work is his book "The Cairngorm Hills of Scotland" (1925), which is considered a classic of Scottish natural history. The book provides a detailed and lyrical description of the ecology, geology, and wildlife of the Cairngorms, one of the most beautiful and rugged areas of the Scottish Highlands. It is illustrated with Gordon's own photographs and sketches and has been reprinted many times.

Gordon also wrote many other books on Scottish natural history, including "Highways and Byways in the West Highlands" (1925), "Wildlife in Britain" (1938), and "The Charm of Skye" (1950). These books are notable for their vivid descriptions of the landscapes, flora, and fauna of Scotland and for their passionate advocacy of conservation and environmentalism.

Throughout his career, Gordon was a tireless advocate for the protection and preservation of Scotland's natural heritage. He was instrumental in the establishment of several national parks and wildlife reserves in the Highlands and was a vocal opponent of commercial exploitation of the region's resources. His legacy as a naturalist, writer, and conservationist continues to inspire and inform generations of nature lovers and environmentalists in Scotland and beyond.

This is a fine copy of this 1st Edition with bright cover boards decorated with gilt titles and thistle. 

Inside the pages are bright and clean throughout and  tight binding.

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