MLG Gardner
The History of Finsbay Lodge, Harris
About the book
In telling the story of the enigmatic Finsbay Lodge, home of the Hebridean Sporting Association, this book opens a fascinating window on to the history of the beautiful Isle of Harris. The author has unearthed an amazing amount of detailed information, not just about the Lodge and the characters that were drawn to it and to Harris, but also relating to the fish and fishing. We see evocative glimpses of unique Hebridean life experiences for both local and visitor at the beginning of the 20th century and at the start of the First World War.
Though the life of the Lodge was short, it was astonishingly vivid and was part of one of the largest ever angling ventures. Its relationship with other aspects of the history of Harris is very clear: the hotel at Rodel, the lodge at Borve, the salmon and sea trout fishing at Leverburgh and Horsacleit, and the school at Finsbay all play their part. The contributions of the proprietors of Harris, Lords Dunmore and Leverhulme, also find their place, along with Thomas Wilson, Archie Chisholm, the Lodge staff and the local children. Land reform, fish hatcheries, and rivalry for shipping trade also feature.
This book is certain to appeal to a wide variety of readers and is an invaluable contribution to the history of Harris and, indeed, Scotland. It will interest in equal measure devotees of Scottish island life, students of social history, and enthusiasts of the art of angling for wild fish.
Author Q&A
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am retired from a career in medical science (professor of biochemistry and physiology), but have a very long standing interest in fishing, fish biology, and in the Hebridean islands off the west coast of Scotland. Though I have published many papers in scientific journals and a small text-book, I had no previous experience of self-publishing. I am a native of Perthshire, Scotland, but now live in West Yorkshire.
Tell us about the book and your motivations for self publishing it:
The book is based on original research into a remarkable building, Finsbay Lodge, in a remote but beautiful place on the east coast of the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. This was constructed by the Hebridean Sporting Association Ltd in 1903 as a substantial hotel for their angling guests. The founders were a group of influential and entrepreneurial men, mainly from Glasgow, who formed a limited company with 75 shareholders from all over Britain. They also built dams and constructed various artificial lochs for sea trout and salmon fishing. Until this book was published very little was known or recorded about the company, their lodge or the history of the excellent fishing lochs in South Harris. Detailed research in various public and private archives has helped to unearth a fascinating story which includes letters from people staying at Finsbay Lodge and the atmosphere there at the outbreak of the First World War. The activities of Viscount Leverhulme, the soap magnate whose empire became Unilever, in the Hebrides are described, as he became the final owner of Finsbay Lodge before it deteriorated and was demolished. The book also describes the sea trout fishings in Harris and discusses some of the biological differences between the fish in different water systems. It also includes chapters on shipping to Harris and on land reform issues.
For many years I had been puzzled about the history of the man-made lochs in Harris and even more amazed that no one appeared to know about their origin or about the building of Finsbay Lodge whose foundations are still visible. As I delved into my research, more and more intriguing aspects emerged, and it became clear that a mere article or two could never do justice to the subject. Also I realised that the history and associated anecdotes needed to be recorded for posterity and for local interest in the Hebrides.
I was aware that there might be insufficient market for a commercial publisher such as Birlinn or Tempus to take on the book; also I was keen to have a strong input to the style and quality of the final production. Hence, self-publication with the help of the best possible book production company was the obvious solution.
The book is copiously illustrated with evocative contemporary and recent illustrations, and it includes a comprehensive bibliography. It will appeal to devotees of Scottish island life, students of social history and enthusiasts of the art of angling for wild fish.
Why did you choose Scotforth Books?
I had been wary of book production companies for the self-publishing market as I could see that some of their practices were not ideal and that quality was not always first class, especially in the case of “vanity publishers”. However I saw the excellent quality of design by Carnegie for “Burroughs Wellcome & Co” by Church & Tansey and for “St Kilda and the Wider World” by Fleming (published by Windgather Press).
My initial correspondence and meeting with Anna Goddard convinced me that Carnegie/Scotforth would fulfil my requirements, especially in terms of design quality, ability to liaise closely with an expert and enthusiastic typesetter/designer, and time-scale of production. The choice of various printing options (and their respective costs) and the ready availability of advice to me as a novice at self-publishing were also strongly positive features.
What advice would you give to people who are thinking of self-publishing?
1. Look at various published books and formulate some ideas about the style and design features that you would ideally like.
2. Be prepared to make sensible calculations about the cost of the print-run, sale price of the final book plus marketing costs (e.g. postage and packing etc). Hence have some ideas about the relative importance of cost and quality.
3. Prepare the manuscript extremely carefully, checking spelling layout and hierarchy of headings, ensuring that illustrations are of the highest quality possible. Remember that once typeset, changes will be difficult; once printed, changes will be impossible! Be prepared to proof-read meticulously (or else get help for this) and promptly.
4. Discuss with any potential book production company the likely time-scale, the availability of personal advice about design and marketing, and the nature of changes that can be made to galley proofs without further costs.
5. Make thorough lists of potential papers and magazines that might review your book, also of bookshops and other possible sales outlets. Where possible, approach such people personally (making an appointment if necessary). Consider approaching wholesalers, but remember to include their discounts in your financial calculations.
6. Obtain an ISBN – without this few retailers will handle your book.
7. Prepare an Advance Information sheet and Press Release, illustrated if possible. Take any available advice about their contents.
8. Avoid “vanity publishers” and preferably select a book production company that publishes its own books and books for other professional publishers. Make sure that you have seen samples of the company’s previous work.
Extracts from reviews of Finsbay Lodge:
“The intriguing and dramatic story of Finsbay Lodge…… is revealed piece by piece like a gripping detective novel by Michael Gardner in this original and fascinating book……. Michael Gardner has succeeded triumphantly in both clarifying its history and demonstrating its significance to wider historical developments.”
History Scotland“The author has collected an impressive amount of detailed information and some poignant vignettes, particularly as the outbreak of war approached ………..He has repaid his own long love affair with Harris by writing an exceptionally interesting book which will be of obvious value to fellow-fishermen but also goes off at tangents which explore the wider history and personalities of South Harris. For a privately-published book, it is unusually well put together and some commercial pub¬lisher would do well to ensure that it remains in print.”
West Highland Free Press and www.whfp.com“…… the book is chock full of maps, detailed accounts and letters sent between the various parties involved with the rise and fall of Finsbay Lodge and some wonderfully evocative photographs … The book is full of fascinating insights … ”
www.fishandfly.com