Langwell

Langwell is an absorbing story of a Caithness estate,1750-1850. Its review of the key changes of the period undoubtedly adds to the wider debate, but what is particularly well-depicted is the complex network of debt surrounding the estate’s ownership and the book’s success at giving identity to those who managed it. -- Robert A. Dodgshon, Aberystwyth University
This remarkable book will be a landmark text for the history not only of Caithness or the Highlands, but for rural communities across Scotland and globally. It utilises a huge range of primary materials to build a meticulous picture of a society undergoing a series of revolutions in their way of life, and tells that story with excitement and creativity from multiple perspectives. An absolutely essential read. -- Annie Tindley, Newcastle University
Based on extensive archival research, Langwell explores a period of profound change and traces its impact on local communities. Wide-ranging and thoroughly grounded in the broader context, it encompasses impecunious lairds, grasping lawyers, links to slavery, clearance, famine, and social conflict. The book throws new light on a distinctive part of the Highlands. -- Malcolm Bangor-Jones, author of 'From Clanship to Crofting' and 'The Coming of the Great Sheep'