Atlantic kayaking book to launch in Scotland

Historian and kayaker David Gange will launch his book The Frayed Atlantic Edge in Scotland next month.

Subtitled ‘A historian’s journey from Shetland to the Channel’, the book is published by Harper Collins and tells the story of his epic Atlantic kayak trip over the course of a year, and will be launched at Shetland Library on Tuesday, 9 July.

David has described how sitting low in the water, as did millions in eras when the coasts were the main arteries of trade and communication, gave him a particular perspective on coastal living and historical discovery. He used local archives and poetic literature in his work.

He has a strong regard for Moder Dy, the poetry collection recently published by Shetlander Roseanne Watt. He has also got to know local writers Jen Hadfield, Donald Murray and Sally Huband and has invited them to read at his launch.

He said: ‘One revelation of that journey was that there’s no better resource than poetry for exploring how similar ingredients of sea, weather and land have been turned into the diverse island cultures of Atlantic Britain and Ireland.’

The Frayed Atlantic Edge by David Gange

Writer Donald Murray has reviewed his book as: ‘Energetic, engaging and erudite – David Gange helps us to see these islands in a new and exciting way… a journey that is sometimes boisterous, sometimes lyrical but always engaging.’

Karen Fraser of Shetland Library said: ‘David has put together a wonderful programme for us and we are so pleased to host this launch, especially since he is promoting Shetland writing alongside his new book. The combination of kayaking, history, poetry and nature will appeal to a wide audience.’

Jen Hadfield is winner of the TS Eliot Prize and author of three celebrated volumes of poetry. Donald Murray is author of many volumes of poetry, fiction and non-fiction and he was recently shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award. Sally Huband is winner of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.

The event, beginning at 7pm in the Library, is free and the Shetland Times Bookshop will be there to manage sales and the author signing.

The Frayed Atlantic Edge is published on 11 July in hardback, priced £18.99.