Notes from the North

By Emma Wood

Reviewed by Sharma Krauskopf and rated

The subject of the reception of outlanders in Scotland was of great interest to me since I would soon be living in Scotland. This book deals particularly with the reception of the British, or "White Settlers" as the locals calls those Brits who move to the Highlands. The author is Emma Wood who started to dream of moving to the Highlands of Scotland because of her unhappiness with Margaret Thatcher's politics. Emma Wood is honest about why she decided to make the move and the mistakes she made along the way. A message the author constantly repeats in the book is if you are going to move to Scotland you need to know about the history, language and politics of the country. This is such an important premise she includes a brief summary of the history of the Scots and the English.

She confronts the issue of racial intolerance and sets out conflicting perceptions of the "Englishness," "Scottishness," or whatever nationality might be involved. She goes beyond explaining by giving some suggestions on how to overcome those issues by cherishing the new country's culture. This advice can be of value for anyone moving into a new country.

I found this book particularly delightful since I have experienced some of the things she highlights in my travels to Scotland. Being an American I do not have the years of bloody struggle to overcome as an English person moving to Scotland does. I did experience prejudice from some people. Emma proposes a reason for this resentment I had never really understood. How would you like it if someone entered your area, bought a good house, and sings the praises of the isolation when you can barely exist because of lack of jobs and services? You would be resentful too. She also presents the answer to solving that problem. The "outlander" needs to get busy and help make the area better. Not tell the local Scots what to do but get out there and help do it.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone whoever dreamed or is considering moving to the more isolated areas of any country. I have granted it four thistles.

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