It's 1943 and the war has brought rationing to the Hebridean islands of Great and Little Todday. When food is in short supply, it is bad enough, but when the whisky runs out, it looks like the end of the world.Morale is at rock bottom. George Campbell needs a wee dram to give him the courage to stand up to his mother and marry Catriona. The priest, the doctor and, of course, the landlord at the inn are all having a very thin time of it. There's no conversation, no jolity, no fun - ...

Chester Royde, an American millionaire, travels to Scotland with his new bride Carrie and sister Myrtle, to find out more about Carrie's Scottish ancestry. Their new 'relatives' turn out to be a little more authentically Scottish than they bargained for. Ben Nevis, Laird of Glenbogle Castle, is fiercely protective of his lands and the Macdonald clan spirit, but being cash-strapped he's not above attempts to marry heiress Myrtle to one of his many brawny sons. But then a group of hikers stu...

It's 1955 and the Pallas Players, an all-female theatre company, are putting on a play: Whisky Galore.They transport us back to 1943 on the Scottish islands of Great and Little Todday, where the whisky supply has dried up because of the war, leaving tensions running high. Relief seems to be at hand when a ship carrying 50,000 bottles of whisky is wrecked just offshore. Then it's every thirsty man for himself as the islanders try to rescue as many bottles as possible before...

Sir Compton Mackenzie, (1883–1972) was a prolific writer of fiction, biography, histories, and memoir, as well as a cultural commentator, raconteur, and lifelong Scottish nationalist.It is described by Dr. John MacInnes (formerly of the School of Scottish Studies) as "one of the greatest works of English literature produced in the twentieth century."Sylvia & MichaelGuy and Pauline, 1915The Early Life and Adventures of Sylvia, 1918Scarle...

"Sinister Street" is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, that follows the life and experiences of its protagonist, Michael Fane. The novel begins with Michael's childhood in the fictional English village of Scarsmoor and traces his journey to adulthood in London.As Michael grows older, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the constraints of small-town life and yearns for adventure and excitement. Against the wishes of his family, he decides to move to London to pursue his dreams...

With the spirited and unforgettable Sylvia Scarlett, a character acclaimed as being 'one of the few really great women in fiction', Compton Mackenzie brings us his very own Becky Sharp. Originally published in two volumes, this complete edition follows her fortunes from childhood and marriage, through her escape into prostitution and her later career as a singer and cabaret artiste, until at last she finds romance with Michael Fane.A tale weaved with Dickensian skill and humour in ...

"Plashers Mead" is set in the English countryside and revolves around the lives of the inhabitants of the titular Plashers Mead, a quaint and picturesque village. The story follows the interactions and relationships among the villagers, exploring themes of love, friendship, and community.At the heart of the narrative is the character of Lucy Waterfield, a young woman who inherits Plashers Mead and becomes entangled in the lives of its residents. As Lucy navigates the challenges of managing...

This novel is a romantic comedy that revolves around the theme of elopement, a common trope in literature where characters run away together in pursuit of love or freedom. Compton MacKenzie's writing style often blends humor with social commentary, and his characters are typically lively and eccentric.In "The Passionate Elopement," the narrative likely follows the escapades and misadventures of the main characters as they embark on their elopement, dealing with obstacles, misunderstandings...

Guy and Pauline is a 1915 novel by the British writer Compton Mackenzie. It was begun on Capri and written in three and a half months, and remained Mackenzie's favourite of his own works. It was published in America with the alternative title of Plashers Mead. The story follows the lives of two young people, Guy and Pauline, as they navigate their way through the complexities of love and relationships in early 20th century England. Guy is a handsome and charming young man who comes from a ...

Stanley Baxter reads the witty Compton Mackenzie story set in the Scottish Islands. The inhabitants of Great and Little Toddy think they can cope with World War II - but then the whisky runs out. Life becomes intolerable, until fate delivers them a shipwreck with a cargo of whisky.

Sinister Street is a 1913–1914 novel by Compton Mackenzie. It is a kind of Bildungsroman or novel about growing up, and concerns two children, Michael Fane and his sister Stella. Both of them are born out of wedlock, something which was frowned upon at the time, but to rich parents. In the UK, the novel was published in two volumes. However, in the United States, the volumes appeared as two separate books: Youth's Encounter (1913) and Sinister Street (1914). It is the picture of the develo...

The Seven Ages of Woman is a novel written by Compton MacKenzie, a Scottish author known for his diverse body of work, which includes novels, essays, and plays. The novel was first published in 1930 and explores the various stages of a woman's life through the experiences of the central character, Jenny Pearl. The narrative is structured around the concept of the "seven ages" of a woman's life, a reference to the famous "All the world's a stage" monologue from William Shakespeare's play "A...