An Taigh-Samhraidh (The Holiday Home) is Angus Peter Campbell's third Gaelic novel, following on from the acclaimed An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn (2003), voted into the Top Ten Best Ever Scottish Books by readers of the List magazine, and Là a' Dèanamh Sgèil do Là (2005), shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year.

An Taigh-Samhraidh (The Holiday Home) is set in Argyll, London, Italy and Canada and centres around the contemporary phenomena of the second home and how market forces have allowed the linguistic, cultural, social and physical landscape of the Highlands to be swamped by rich incomers, buying houses previously lived in for generations by native Gaels.

Two central characters, Tom, a retired air pilot, and Rebecca, a consultant at Guys Hosiptal, buy their dream cottage in 21st Century Argyll. Their fears, hopes, and desires are played out against a rich background of Argyll's Gaelic history. The history and the fortunes of the indigenous Gael, and the Gaelic diaspora are revealed to us through the character of Ronnie Weaver, now back in Argyll from Canada, having emigrated there in the 70s. Ronnie has returned to the family homeland in Argyll with a renewed interest in the past, in a search for his own Gaelic identity. All three characters are searching for something, whether it be identity, justice or happiness.

Their lives tangle in a gripping, and unexpected, climax to the story. Just who wins? And who is right - the Gael or the incomer? Ultimately, the novel questions its own treatment of this story of dispossession.

The Author
Angus Peter Campbell was born, and spent his early years, in South Uist. He has an Honours Degree in History and Politics from the University of Edinburgh. He has a successful career in journalism he is still a prominent broadcaster – with appearances on radio and television (in both English and Gaelic) and a regular column in the West Highland Free Press. He has published several books: his first novel An Oidhche Mus Do Sheol Sinn (The Night Before We Sailed), was published in 2003 to widespread critical acclaim. In 2001, he was awarded the Bardic Crown at the Royal National Mod in the Western Isles, and in the same year was given a Creative Scotland Award by the Scottish Arts Council. He has been a Writer in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and has worked for the Iain Crichton Smith Writing Fellowship, sponsored by the Highland Council. Otago Publishing released his highly acclaimed Invisible Islands (in English) in 2006. He lives in Sleat on the Isle of Skye, and is available for interview.

A Gaelic version of this press release is available.

For further information, or to arrange an interview please contact

or John Storey on 07779358564 / john@gaelicbooks.net

or Helen Loughlin on 07784319868 / hmloughlin@hotmail.com