John McPhee - now 86 - is one of the pioneers of creative non-fiction, and has had a long association with The New Yorker. Many of his 29 books have been based on stories first published there, including this one - published in that magazine in 1969, and in book form in 1970. This is a welcome new edition. In 1969, he moved his family from New Jersey to the island of Colonsay, off the coast of Scotland, to live in the land of his forefathers. This book explores the history and legend of the remote island, and provides entertaining portraits of many of its 138 inhabitants. In less than 150 pages, McPhee gives a good insight into what it would be like to live as an outsider in such a place.