The Saga of Ring of Bright Water: The Enigma of Gavin Maxwell - Couverture souple

This critically acclaimed authorized biography of Gavin Maxwell which was first published in 1994 is now available under the NWP imprint for worldwide distribution. The subject was one of Scotland s greatest natural history writers who gained worldwide fame when he wrote Ring Of Bright Water, an international bestseller, which made the otter one of the most famous animal breeds on earth. The book tracks Maxwell s life from his earliest days in Galloway through his schooldays and army service. The story then moves to Scotland s west coast where Maxwell set up his doomed shark-fishing factory on Soay, which was to be written about in Harpoon At A Venture. Moving to Sandaig, the Camusfearna of Ring Of Bright Water, Maxwell established the base around which he was to revolve for the next two decades and which was to be a central theme for the rest of his working life. Here he wrote his books and made a sanctuary for the otters Mijbil, Teko and Edal which were all brought up here. His dream was ultimately to die in the fire of 1968 in which Edal perished. A masterful portrait of an enigmatic man who was haunted by the ghosts of his upbringing until the day he died in 1969.

Wonderfully written and very penetrating and understanding. What an extraordinary story! --David Attenborough

Masterly...enthralling. --Andro Linklater, The Spectator

Compelling...a ripping yarn about a mercurial man told with the verve and romanticism it deserves. --John McEwen, Sunday Telegraph