Book Review
Poacher’s Pilgrimage: An Island Journey
by Alastair McIntosh
The title and cover belie a book of depth, breadth, scholarship and wisdom. Those of you who know Alastair McIntosh may already have some idea of what to expect from the author of Soil and Soul, which included a hilarious and breath-taking account of the liberation of Eigg from centuries of near feudal ownership, whilst arguing for a depth of connection between land and people going far beyond nationalism into realms spiritual.
Poacher’s Pilgrimage is his account of a walk undertaken in 2009 from Rodel on South Harris to the far North, Butt of Lewis. Lewis is the island where he grew up, the child of an incoming professional family. He grew up there, but is not quite of there, nor does he claim to speak Gaelic; this doesn’t deter him from many a knowledgeable discussion of Gaelic names. He was drawn back in his middle years to reconnect above all with the land, mountains and moor, rivers and lochs, fairy mounds and holy wells. It was a pilgrimage indeed, containing moments and experiences of spiritual wonder, revelations of the mythos underlying our everyday reality. In the process he also comes to a deep appreciation of the people of the islands and a way of life still relatively untouched by the plastic world.
The author’s spiritual curiosity shines through, allied to depth of scholarship in theological matters from Calvinist Christianity to ancient Celtic forms, from Quakerism to Hindu scriptures. He doesn’t hide his doctrinal disagreements with orthodox Calvinism and island Presbyterian practices, but maintains a respect for sincere goodness, in which he finds links to far older, healing ways.
