The Eskimo Republic
Scots Political Song in Action, 1951-1999

Ewan McVicar's latest book investigates the historical roots of Scots political song, and considers the role of key activists and songmakers, and how new and old Scottish songs fuelled and reported on political actions and campaigns, from the 1950 reiving of the Stane of Destiny through the growth of the SNP to the 1999 reopening of the Scottish Parliament, and on peace campaigns and protests from the 1960s to the 1990s.

The work of Hamish Henderson, Matt McGinn, Thurso Berwick, Hamish Imlach, Ewan MacColl and Dick Gaughan is considered. Interviewees include Jim McLean, Ian Davison, Alistair Hulett, Ian McCalman, Eric Bogle, Marion Blythman, Billy Wolfe, Jim Kelman, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Archie Fisher, Geordie MacIntyre, Ann Neilson, John Greig, Peggy Seeger, Ian Walker, John Powles, Stuart McHardy, Nancy Nicolson, Sheila Douglas, Rab Noakes, Cathie Peattie MSP, Hugh MacDonald, Rob Gibson MSP, Danny Couper, Donald Smith, Dolina MacLennan, Eileen Penman, Ronnie Clark and John Barrow.

 

John Powles

Review for Word Power Website

Ewan McVicar’s The Eskimo Republic: Scots Political Song in Action, 1951-1999 is an excellent introduction to the development of mainly folk-based songs of campaigning and activism over fifty tumultuous years of politics and causes. With some backward, as well as one or two forward, glances by way of contextualisation, Ewan’s book is comprehensive, accessible, and a very enjoyable read. As well as thoroughly trawling the written and audio resources, Ewan has spoken to a wide range of people, and the book is enriched by the inclusion of parts of some of those testimonies. The accompanying CD with many songs from many singers, as well as some interesting illustrative material, is an important and valuable additional resource, but for a researcher the outstanding tool is the searchable pdf of the Eskimo Republic text, making the whole package of book and CD an exciting blend of traditional book, audio media, and e-text.
Ewan’s focus on the folk genre past and present is right for his book and for his purposes; perhaps at some point the Eskimo Republic will be joined by a book examining the Scots political song so abundantly with us in other genres – now there’s a thought!
John Powles. Giving Voice Workshops.

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ISBN	956599044
ISBN13	9780956599049
Publisher	Gallus Publishing
Format	Mixed media product
Publication date	15/10/2010
Pages	343
Weight (grammes)	649
Published in	United Kingdom
Height (mm)	210
Width (mm)	148