Читать книгу Light - Margaret Elphinstone - Страница 4

I would like to acknowledge the help of the following people, from north to south: Anne Sinclair, Fair Isle, and Simon Hall, Orkney, for taking Ben’s part so well; MV Halton (Stromness) and her crew – Bob Anderson, Angus Budge and Mary Harris – for the epic voyages round the Scottish islands; the Sule Skerry Ringing Group, especially Mike Archer, Adrian Blackburn and Dave Budworth, for taking on a complete amateur; Fran Cree and Chris Barrett, Rua Reidh Lighthouse, for providing both setting and frequent retreat; Miriam McDonald at the library of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland; Ian Begg, for drawing Archie’s map for him; Martin Hendry for the stars and planets; Jonathan Sawday for the sailing directions and David Kinloch for the voices. I also thank Ann Bardens, Mike Brown and Ros Elphinstone, and my editor at Canongate, Karen McCrossan.

I’d like to thank everyone on the Isle of Man who gave me ideas and hospitality, particularly those at the Centre for Manx Studies who so generously let me use their knowledge and research: Peter Davey, Kit Gawne, Jennifer Kewley Draskau, Breesha Maddrell and Philippa Tomlinson; also Roger Sims and the staff of the Manx National Heritage Library. I’m indebted to Eva Wilson, Castletown, for the benefit of her research, and Celia Salisbury Jones, Castletown, for much help and hospitality; Adrian Corkill, for his survey of Manx wrecks; and Alex Maddrell, Port St Mary, for sharing his deep knowledge and seamanship, and Ray Moore, University of York, for the weather data.

I wish to thank the people who generously shared their childhood memories of India: Kumkum Dabriwala, Cleodie Mackinnon, Helen Reid Thomas, Mira Shahani, Uma Shahani and Pete Stuart.

I could not have spent so much time on uninhabited islands without the hospitality of the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust and the Calf of Man Bird Observatory Trust. I also wish to thank the University of Liverpool for hosting me at the Centre for Manx Studies while I researched this novel. A grant from the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland helped to finance my research. Finally, I’m indebted to the Bogliasco Foundation, Liguria, for awarding me a fellowship which enabled me to write the book in ideal conditions, which included an excellent view of the sea.