This groundbreaking exploration of the rich tapestry of lives shaped by the winds of change. For over three centuries, the people of Orkney and Shetland have ventured across the globe, leaving their mark on communities from the Arctic to the Antipodes. This meticulously researched book fills a significant gap in the historical narrative, offering a panoramic study of the motives, strategies and emotions of island emigrants.

Drawing on a treasure trove of archival materials and personal accounts, the author weaves together compelling stories that reveal the resilience and determination of those who sought new beginnings. From poignant letters to vivid diaries, these voices of the past illuminate the experiences of those who ventured far from home.

MARJORY HARPER is a Professor of History at the University of Aberdeen and an Associate Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Centre for History. Her study of Scottish emigration in the nineteenth century, Adventurers and Exiles, won the Saltire Society Scottish History Book of the Year Prize in 2004. With Professor Stephen Constantine, she co-authored Migration and Empire (2010), a Companion volume in the Oxford History of the British Empire. She and her husband live in rural Aberdeenshire.