Whisky, Kilts, and the Loch Ness Monster: Traveling through Scotland with Boswell and Johnson

Acknowledgments

vii Acknowledgments Many people contributed in many ways toward making this book a pleasure to research and write. I’m grateful to each, including those few who said they’d prefer not to be mentioned. Since I’ve been employed full-time—and gratefully so—throughout the time it took to undertake my trip to Scotland and subsequent writing and research, I want to thank my boss, Darro Willey, director of the DeKalb County Public Library. He was a consistent supporter and somehow managed to find the ways to make it possible for me to get the time I desperately needed over a period of several years. My thanks also go to the entire staff at the DeKalb Library, many of whom responded kindly and quickly to my numerous questions. Rob Jenkins and Jack Riggs at the Writers Institute at Georgia Perimeter College generously supplied space and encouragement during the early stages of writing. The friends who helped me secure a cottage in the western North Carolina mountains for an extended period of writing furthered my work more than they could have imagined. Peter, Phil, Terry, Tom (both of you), Jack, George, and Pat all offered cheering words when I needed them. There were many people in Scotland who enlightened me in so many aspects of Scottish culture and who made my journey a joy and an inspiration . I still miss their company: Kenny, Frances, and Roger in Stirling; Helen in Inverary; John in Fionnphort; Philip and Debra on Skye; David on Raasay; Susan and Ronnie on Lewis; Angus, Alistair, and Anna in Ullapool; Martin in Durness; Paul and Elaine in Thurso; Greg and Lesley on the Orkneys; Liz and Peter at Inverness; Lady Russell at Ballindolloch Castle; Jim in Pitlochry; Loris in Arbroath; Maureen at Auchinleck; and John in Edinburgh. There are others, including some helpful librarians, and I am most appreciative for your assistance. I happily absolve all of the above for any responsibility for my errors. To the people of Scotland, for whom I have discovered a deep and abiding affection, my thanks for accepting me during the too-brief time I visited . A stranger asking nonstop questions about Boswell and Johnson viii Acknowledgments couldn’t have been high on their welcoming list, but the truth is I never felt anything less than welcome. And to the staff at the University of South Carolina Press, long my favorites, I thank you for your careful work on my manuscript. I am grateful for your professionalism and friendship. I am happy and grateful to acknowledge the remarkable generosity shown me by the talented staff at Lenz Marketing in Decatur, Georgia. My special thanks go to Richard Lenz for his unstinting support and to the gifted artist Matt Tinsley, who planned and created the delightful jacket for this book as well as the helpful chapter heading maps. Matt was a pleasure to work with—full of terrific ideas and rich imagination—and he possessed the artistry to make them happen. Thanks go to my extended family, past and present. Your love, acceptance , or toleration has been valued more than you could possibly imagine. Finally, my thanks go to Michele, who made the trip work, who guided my work, and who made it all seem much less like work. N N O R R R T T H H S S E E A A A A N N O O R R T T H H C C C H H H A A A N N N N N E E E L L I I N N N N N N N E E E R R H H E E B B R R I I D D E E S S O O O U U T T T E E R H H E E B B R R I I D D E E E S S E N E N E N E N G L G L G L G G A N A N A N A N D D D D D O R K N E O R K N E O R K Y Y I S L A N I S L A N D D S S Edinburgh Raasay Armadale Skye Dundee Auchinleck Glasgow Dundonald St Andrews Mull Iona Coll Aberdeen Inverness Fort Augustus Ulva Inchkenneth Arbroath Elgin The journey of James Boswell...