THE FIRTH OF CLYDE

GEORGE BLAKE

COLLINS, 1954

For those who know and love the noble Firth, this book will evoke nostalgic memories of long summer days spent sailing on its broad and kindly waters, exploring its not inconsiderable islands of Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes, penetrating its sheltered, winding lochs, or gazing from ashore at that wonderful, ever-changing panorama of mountain, sea and sky. For those to whom this entrancing waterway is still unknown, it will bring pleasurable anticipation, for no one could resist for long the attractions of the renowned region of Britain.

Written by the well-known Scottish novelist, George Blake, whose name is so closely identified with the Clyde and its ships, the book has naturally much to say about the pleasure steamers which are such a feature of the Clyde. Their very names will be honey-sweet to generations of light-hearted passengers – Lord of the Isles, Lucy Ashton, King Edward (incidentally the first passenger turbine steamer), Columba (loveliest of all, and universally mourned on her passing to the shipbreakers in 1936). Here, too, are the memories of the great 23-metre queens of the Clyde Fortnight – White Heather; the Valkyries; and the Shamrocks, Sir Thomas Lipton’s valiant challengers for the America’s Cup.

The shores of the Firth are fully described, south to Carrick and the lonely sentinel of Ailsa Craig, north to the rugged Cobbler and song-haunted Loch Lomond. The natural history of the region is fully treated. Due regard is given throughout to recent social and economic changes. Lastly, the book is illustrated with a great many really striking photographs.

The dust jacket is worn at the extremes and has a few chips and splits. The boards are lightly sunned at the top and bottom. (very slight). The stickdown endpapers are maps of the Clyde Sea Area. There is a small, neat ink inscription in the margin. In good condition, the pages are clean and tight. Illustrated in black and white.