Shale Voices

About the Book: 

You're a coal miner and I'm a shale miner. You're a tramp and I'm a toff. HARRY, a Drawer

There were sixteen or eighteen Simpsons... She was having one every dividend we would say. SISTERS, from Broxburn

Shale voices introduces the shale miners and their families, an industry that employed generations of Scots, had an impact on the social, political and cultural history of Scotland and gave birth to today's major oil companies.

Author Alistair Findlay was born in the shale mining village of Winchburgh and is the fourth son of a shale miner, Bob Findlay, who became editor of the West Lothian Courier. This book is made up of oral history. The generations of communities involved in shale mining tell their story in their own words, providing a unique documentary of their class and lifestyle. Alistair Findlay combines photographs, drawings, poetry and short stories with the cultural and economic history of the shale industry. In doing so, he brings the people of the shale villages to the forefront of this beautifully-written memoir of those who created central Scotland's great shale bings.

Reviews: 

Alistair Findlay has added a basic source material to the study of Scottish History that is invaluable... Scotland owes him a debt of gratitude for undertaking this work. TAM DALYELL

One of the finest pieces of social history I've ever read. MARK STEPHEN, The Scottish Connection, BBC Radio Scotland

For thousands of people across the country their attitudes, lifestyles and opinions have been formed through an industry which was once the envy of the world... captures the essence of the feeling of the time. LINDSAY GOULD, The West Lothian Courier

Findlay records their voices, as sharp and red as the rock they worked... The result is to recreate the directness, simplicity and power of everyday speech. JOHN FOSTER, The Morning Star

The real and rounded history of the people... important, informative, captivating and inspiring, speckled with hardship and humour, it is well worth a read. JOHN STEVENSON, Scotland in Unison

... do you not feel echos of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Sunset Song in this man's writing? WILLIAM WOLDE, Scots Independent

About the author:

ALISTAIR FINDLAY has had a diverse career, from clay miner to social worker. He has published four previous collections of poetry, including Sex, Death and Football (2003), The Love Songs of John Knox (2006), Dancing with Big Eunice (2010) and Never Mind the Captions (2011).

Read Alistair’s profile by Angus Reid in the Morning Star.