Being Scilly

It’s hard to believe that this book is non-fiction; because it is so full of ups and downs you feel like you’re reading an Eastenders script.

Except it’s true, and it’s set on the beautiful Isles of Scilly, about 28 miles off the coast of Landsend in Cornwall.

There was a documentary on BBC called “An Island Parish” a few years ago and this book is based on the writer, Nigel Farrell’s viewpoint while he was filming it.

Essentially the book is about the work of the priest on the Islands. But it’s a lot more than that.

As well as Farrell talking you through the every day trials and tribulations of the people of Scilly, he also so gives you a factual history of the land and the culture. He teaches you the true story of how many ships over the centuries have been wrecked as they reached the Isles; how the locals all banded together to rescue the crews and how they rewarded themselves with the ships’ treasures!

Farrell tells the story with compassion and a dry sense of humour and sensitively handles the relationship between the priest and the Islanders.

He deeply gets to know the people of the Parish well. He learns about their past, their families, their relationships, what brought them to the Islands, their sadness, joy, hopes and fears.

Farrell also includes old poems and folk songs attributed to the Islands’ history, which I think is the icing on the cake of a wonderful book.

Being Scilly