The Little General and the Rousay Crofters

Nearly 20 years ago William Thomson’s Little General and the Rousay Crofters first saw the light of day. Now this fine work a mixture of meticulous historical research and of a rattling good yarn is back in print again at a most attractive price.

When the publisher suggested a reprint Mr Thomson took the opportunity to rewrite chapter three entitled “Early Development of the Estate.” Recent work including Mr Thomson’s own analyses of early rentals shed more light on aspects of the chapter. Particularly interesting and pretty convincing is his discussion of pennylands and urislands.

Apart from that the book is as it was, a study of General Frederick William Traill-Burroughs with especial reference to the clash between this laird of most of Rousay and the crofters on his estate.

This was the Orkney aspect of a Scottish movement to gain for crofters the security of tenure that was being offered to Irish peasants.

Mr Thomson is at pains to provide a balance between the rights and wrongs of the views and behaviour of the principals. Yet the passion of strong characters acting from opposite sets of principles (especially General Burroughs and James Leonard, stonemason and sub-tenant, the crofters’ leader) bursts through.

Triumph and tragedy both have their place in this very human story. Mr Thomson’s handling of the complex issues is masterly.

James A. Troup