Whisky Galore Compton Mackenzie 1948 Second Impression Scottish Novel

Title & Bibliographic Details

Title: Whisky Galore

Author: Compton Mackenzie

Publisher: Chatto & Windus

Place of Publication: London

Printer: R. & R. Clark Ltd., Edinburgh

Publication Date: 1948

Edition: Second Impression. The first impression was published in 1947.

Historical & Bibliographic Context

Whisky Galore is one of the best-loved comic novels of the twentieth century and remains Compton Mackenzie's most famous work. Inspired by the real-life wreck of the cargo ship SS Politician off the island of Eriskay in 1941, the novel blends historical inspiration with fictional characters and Mackenzie's characteristic humour.

The Author's Note explains that although the fictional SS Cabinet Minister resembles the SS Politician, "the coincidence stops there, for the rest is pure fiction."

The novel became internationally famous following the classic 1949 Ealing Studios film adaptation and remains closely associated with the Hebrides and Scottish literary heritage.

About the Author

Sir Compton Mackenzie (1883–1972) was a prolific Scottish novelist, playwright and co-founder of the Scottish National Party. He wrote more than one hundred books, but Whisky Galore remains his best-known and most enduring work.

Binding & Exterior Condition

Bound in the publisher's original red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and the original red top edge.

The binding remains structurally sound. Cosmetic wear includes fading to the spine, a couple of bumped corners, light rubbing, light marks and minor patches of fading consistent with age and careful handling.

Interior Condition

The pages are lightly toned with age, with rough-cut lower edges characteristic of the period. Light foxing is present at the beginning and end of the book, while the text pages remain generally clean, showing only occasional light creases, small folds, light foxing or very small marks that do not affect readability.

There are a few tiny edge tears caused by the rough-cut page edges, none affecting the text.

The front free endpaper bears the initials of a previous owner together with the bookseller's label of B. H. Blackwell Ltd., Broad Street, Oxford.

An attractive survival is the retained inner flap from the original dust jacket, preserved inside the book and reproducing the publisher's contemporary description of the novel.

The binding remains secure, with only extremely light and partial gutter cracks between a couple of pages and at the front endpaper.

All 264 pages are present and have been checked.

Physical Details

Pages: 264

Dimensions: Approximately 19.3 × 12.9 × 2.2 cm

Weight: Approximately 317 g