A Boy Stands On a Headland

In this monograph, the award-winning Caithness writer George Gunn reflects on his childhood as though seen through the eyes of a young boy, set within the uncompromising landscape of his native district. These early experiences are interwoven with a more mature understanding of Caithness, its culture, history and sense of place.

The work brings together personal and family stories with wider themes drawn from the life of the community. These include the language, landscape and nature of Caithness, alongside elements of folklore and memory such as ‘the magic dog’, ‘the village longhouse’ and stories of a family curse. The writing is throughout that of a poet, at times direct in its reflections on the influence of institutions such as the educational system and the Church.

Published by the Islands Book Trust to mark the author’s seventieth year, the book has been noted for its engagement with questions of place and language. As Matthew Zajac writes, it is “a compelling expression of this poet’s life-force, his bond with history, myth and his land,” while Mike Small describes it as “a rich and warm remembrance of childhood, language, and the meaning of ‘home’.”

Author: George Gunn

ISBN: 978-1-917834-03-2