Spade Among the Rushes

One of very few books available on Moidart in the north-west of Scotland, it evokes the enchanted, magical beauty of this much-loved area ofthe country. Margaret Leigh was already a successful author when her longing for freedom and independence led to her decision to becomea crofter in the West Highlands. These memoirs describe her attempts to transform a deserted croft into a home, and her struggles to snatchland back from the wilderness. Although far from the Blitz, the effects of the war are felt throughout the Highlands, and the rationing of foodand vital materials, the battles with bureaucrats who had no understanding of a crofter’s needs, and even the appearance of a Nazi mine off thecoast, all frustrate Margaret Leigh’s efforts. But despite the hardships, the land and the people of the Highlands gave her a contentment andhappiness she had never known before.This edition features an Introduction by Katie Maclean, who knew Margaret Leigh during her time in Moidart.