{"title":"Norman Matheson","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"speyside-odyssey-book-norman-matheson-9781838591182","title":"A Speyside Odyssey","description":"Filled with beautiful illustrations, “A Speyside Odyssey” details the fascinating life story of the Atlantic Salmon as it undertakes one of the most remarkable, and most deadly, journeys in nature.    The story begins with conception in a remote highland burn, and follows the hazardous journey the salmon take through small tributaries, to the River Spey, and from the estuary on to distant oceanic feeding grounds.    After gorging for one or more years on the prolific food sources of the North Atlantic, the odyssey draws to its conclusion as, with remarkable accuracy, the salmon complete the long journey home, to spawn in the burn of their origin.    The salmon’s life-cycle provides a unique background for a natural history of Speyside. As the year unfolds, the changing topography of the landscape and river, the details of bird and animal life, wild flowers and salmon fishing lore are brought to life in words and beautiful watercolour illustrations.    “A Speyside Odyssey” is an emotive celebration of natural history in a breathtaking and captivatingly beautiful area of north-east Scotland.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49760048775441,"sku":"NGR9781838591182","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50515264536849,"sku":"GOR011775858","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1838591184.jpg?v=1750930431"},{"product_id":"speyside-memories-book-norman-matheson-9781838595449","title":"Speyside Memories","description":"This book by Norman Matheson follows on as a companion volume to his highly regarded A Speyside Odyssey (Matador 2019). It is a compilation of eleven autobiographical short stories. These stories begin with the author’s childhood wartime experiences of life on a small farm in upper Speyside. The description of the rather harsh existence, with utilities limited to a trickle of cold water, is relieved by pervading humour, brought to life by the author’s numerous cartoons, which enliven and enrich the visual attraction of the whole book.   Several stories from later life reflect the author’s extensive experience of salmon fishing, especially on Spey.  The topography of the river, several pools of which are illustrated by attractive watercolour sketches, is brought to life with delight in their inviting characteristics. One specific Spey pool on the Tulchan water that enchanted the author unforgettably is mentioned more than once with emotive memory. Encounters with salmon, that were remarkable in one way or another, form the basis of a few stories that should entrance fishermen of a sensitive disposition. Memorable men, who once enlivened the riverside life of Speyside with their flights of imagination and inspired humour, are brought to life in two illustrated stories. Their memories now promise to be enshrined in print.   Elsewhere, the author’s love of the Isle of Skye, with which he has familial connections, is fondly expressed. His grandfather’s unusual lifestyle, including his  funeral, which included a remarkable night-time journey by horse and sledge, in star-lit darkness, along a tree-lined, snow-bound road, is etched in the author’s memory.  Finally, there is a story about the acquisition of a freshwater pearl that, in the author’s romantic mind, became priceless. The envisaged future homecoming of the pearl, mounted in a gold ring, promises to be enchanting.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51347077988625,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51347078054161,"sku":"GOR013132848","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1838595449.jpg?v=1750724642"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-norman-matheson.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}