The Higlands and Islands Since 1880

This is a rounded history of Gaelic Scotland from the land wars of the 1880s to the present day. This book analyses the history of Gaelic Scotland since 1880 through a series of thematic chapters. The way in which the land wars of the 1880s drew on the memory of the clearances and established new themes which would themselves be remembered and reinterpreted over the next century is the central feature of the book. The discussion deals with key topics including, emigration, linguistic change, the martial tradition of the Highlands, its religious history and the way in which its environment, economy and society has been shaped by major interventions by the British state. Sometimes these have been short-sighted and with disastrous consequences. At other times they have generated institutions - the crofting system or the 'Hydro Board' - which have been venerated by the people of the highlands. Recent developments, such as land reform and the advent of community ownership of estates and the development of Gaelic-Medium Education are set in their historical contexts over the period since the late 19th century. The experience of Gaelic Scotland is compared and contrasted with that of Ireland and other areas and the Gael is followed around the world to Canada, Australia and other emigrant destinations. The book presents a rounded view of the history of Gaelic Scotland since the late-Victorian period. This is the first overview of the highlands and islands since 1880. Bringing together of economic, cultural, social and political history of Gaelic Scotland. it sets recent debate about community ownership and land reform in historical context. It examines Gaelic-Medium Education in the context of developments since 1882. It re-examines relationship between the British state and the Scottish Highlands.