Birlinn: Longships of the Hebrides
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is indicative only and does not represent the condition of this copy. For information about the condition of this book you can email us.
This is a study of the longships used by the lords of the Hebridean islands, describing the high degree of perfection achieved by the early shipwrights who fashioned the ships of carved wood in meticulous detail. The birlinns were used for the transport of men, great sea battles and clan feuds and raids. The birlinn is best known in its stylized form as a device used on crests and coats-of-arms, as a heraldic "galley". The book traces the evolution of the birlinn from the Viking longship, using the author's technical knowledge and the oral traditions of the islands to cast light on the practical skills which created these fabled vessels.
Author: John Macaulay
Format: Paperback, 128 pages
Published: 1996, White Horse Press, United Kingdom
Genre: Ships, Boats & Waterways: General Interest
This is a study of the longships used by the lords of the Hebridean islands, describing the high degree of perfection achieved by the early shipwrights who fashioned the ships of carved wood in meticulous detail. The birlinns were used for the transport of men, great sea battles and clan feuds and raids. The birlinn is best known in its stylized form as a device used on crests and coats-of-arms, as a heraldic "galley". The book traces the evolution of the birlinn from the Viking longship, using the author's technical knowledge and the oral traditions of the islands to cast light on the practical skills which created these fabled vessels.