Spirit of Jura

(Polygon)

Sixty years ago the beautiful and remote Hebridean island of Jura provided George Orwell with the solitude and inspiration he needed to write his political masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. In 2006, at the invitation of the Jura Distillery, Scottish Book Trust built on that heritage by establishing the Jura Malt Whisky Writers’ Retreat programme, now recognised as one of the great creative opportunities available.  The programme offers writers space, peace and time in a truly inspirational setting, amid the luxury of the Distillery Lodge.

Spirit of Jura brings together new work, published here for the first time, by the first six writers on the Jura Malt Whisky Writers’ Retreat programme during 2007 and 2008. From Liz Lochhead’s love-and-laughter filled lines to Kathleen Jamie’s exquisitely observed poems of nature; from Romesh Gunesekera’s love story to John Burnside’s haunting  poems and prose; from Philip Gourevitch’s meditation on isolation and loss, to Will Self’s story about a story; and finally from Swetha Prakash’s Eastern-tinged tale to David Faithfull’s landscape drawings, the book represents contrasting studies in wonder, myth and the inspiration provided by one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on earth.

Spirit of Jura also includes work by Janice Galloway and Bernard Crick, and is illuminated by David Faithfull’s drawings. It gives a vivid flavour of the island, and is a fitting tribute to Jura and the creativity it stimulates.

Spirit of Jura was published on 16th April and is available from Amazon here.

Jura Malt Whisky Writer Retreat: photos and writer diaries