The River of Woe, Wonders and Unsung Delights

Here is a sensitive portrayal of the country around the River Ayr in southwest Scotland. Fascinated by life and how it fits into the land the author celebrates the wealth of the area’s heritage in the face of economic decline. His view of its social history and observations on the impact of industry on the landscape, its wildlife, and people are deeply personal where he finds a parallel in his difficult relationship with his late father. Bearing witness to nature’s slow healing mirrors his own coming to terms with his sense of loss. He interprets his world with the analytical eye of an artist recounting intimate wildlife experiences with eloquent but arresting honesty. Sensitive to the passage of time and receptive to the magic inherent in the objects discovered on his wanderings the author conveys a greater depth of experience and understanding to the reader.