Compton MacKenzie was a well-known journalist and author. He had a home on Barra, and his best-known book, made into a movie, was Whiskey Galore! (US title was Tight Little Island) released in 1949 for all you classic movie buffs. The book and movie are based on a real-life 1941 shipwreck of the S.S. Politician near the island of Eriskay and the unauthorized taking of its cargo of whiskey. The plot deals with the attempts of Scottish islanders to take advantage of this unexpected windfall, despite opposition from British authorities. Somebody watch it and let me know what you think! I read his book Monarch of the Glen and it was hilarious. I’m trying to get a little local color on my travels. Left the book on Iona, but may pick it back up when I’m there again. I think the Apalachicola library needs to have these Compton MacKenzies. Several have been recently reissued as vintage classics. I hope Katie will approve; if so I’ll purchase them.
