Oooh, a first edition!

[luzula]

So today I got my first edition of Flight of the Heron, and it's lovely! ♥ I didn't get it just because I wanted one, though I admit it is satisfying--it's for reading the audiobook from, because Librivox is strict about copyright. Anyway, look at this beautiful map on the inside of the front cover! I haven't seen that in any of the later editions.



It has the position of Ardroy and Loch na h-Iolaire marked, which is of course very helpful, since they are made up by the author. I mean, you can figure out the general position from the books anyway, but it's good to get a more specific one. I see which (actually existing) pass they're going over in Chapter 1 now, which I'd been confused about. Here is the modern Ordnance Survey map for reference, and here is the 18th century Roy military survey map of the same area, which...doesn't look like they really got those mountains right.

Comments

[regshoe]

Ohhh, that's amazing :D That map is lovely, and as you say very useful to get the geography worked out—I wish they'd kept it in the later editions! I shall really have to get my hands on one of these...

[luzula]

Yes! I really don't see why they didn't keep that map in the later editions--it's so beautifully drawn, too. Although I see now that it's missing the branch of Wade's military road that goes from Dalwhinnie up the Spey and then to Inverness, hmm.

[isis]

Ooh! Yay maps!

[luzula]

I feel weirdly the same studying these maps as when reading Tolkien or something, except I know that Scotland is actually a real place. *facepalm*

And also I'm visiting these places this summer! : )

[ride_4ever]

You're going to Scotland this summer?! Woo hoo!

[luzula]

Yes I am! Looking forward to it a lot. : )

[philomytha]

I remember spending ages with a map of Scotland the first time I read FotH trying to figure out where everything was, I'm glad I'm not the only one. That's a beautiful book. (Also, hi! Coincidentally I have actually reread this book today because I just recced it to another friend and was in the right frame of mind for it.)

[luzula]

Hi! : ) I didn't look at maps much the first time I read it, which was, um, way back in December of last year. But on my second time through, which I'm not even done with, I'm going really slowly and checking maps and reading along in history books, for fic research. I'm so impressed with Broster's writing and research.

Lovely maps!

[jesse_the_k]

Are you going to narrate it for Librivox?

Re: Lovely maps!

[luzula]

Yes, I am really looking forward to it! The book is a JOY to read, I love all those convoluted old-fashioned sentences. *g*

The copyright doesn't go out until January 1st 2021 though...

[seascribble]

Wait, you're reading an audiobook?!

[luzula]

Yes, for Librivox, which is a community where anyone can record books in the public domain. The copyright for Flight of the Heron runs out January 1, 2021. : )

Actually I've recorded for Librivox before, so if you want to listen to me reading the autobiography of Peter Kropotkin (19th century Russian anarchist) you can do so here and here. It's about 17 hours long. Listening to the reading now, I think it's...okay? Like, not my best work, but it's okay.

Flight of the Heron is going to be SO MUCH better, I can tell. I feel like I was made to read that book, at least Keith's POV. He is delightful, and I love those long convoluted old-fashioned sentences.

I think I would really enjoy recording Sutcliff as well (there are some similarities in style) but alas, her work won't be public domain for a long time.

[seascribble]

Ohhhhhhhh, I see. That is very cool!

[cyphomandra]

Yay for your first edition with map!! I actually can’t remember if mine has one, will have to check when I’m back this weekend. I think not as I remember when much younger spending an afternoon with the Shell roadside map book of the British Isles working out everyone’s route...

[luzula]

Yesss, I keep opening the book and looking at it whenever I pass the bookcase. So lovely.

I find the Roy military survey map online to be quite helpful for fic, because it shows you what things looked like back in the 18th century.

[hyarrowen]

Oh, that's beautiful! And so handy, too - there must surely be some reason why it wasn't included in later editions.

I dithered between the first edition and an illustrated edition with a posh blue binding and gold tooling on the cover. I was a bit disappointed with the illustrations - not enough pics of Keith - also it was printed in Switzerland and there are quite a few typos. It looks nice, though.

I might have to get the first edition as well, brining me up to four copies. Plus your audiobook when you've done it!

[luzula]

I would almost be scared of getting one with illustrations, I think--I have enough opinions about the covers. I don't really like any of the cover illustrations I've seen, though the Penguin paperback does have a sketch of Ewen and Alison at the beginning that I like.

[garonne]

Thanks so much for posting this! When I was reading I couldn't quite figure out where Ardroy is supposed to be.

The link to the Roy military survey map is very interesting too. I remember reading elsewhere that the south of England wasn't properly mapped until the start of the 19th century, in reaction to fears of a French invasion, and before that you basically had to already know the area or ask for directions to get around the country. According to what I read in Wikipedia just now that Roy military map was made in direct reaction to the Jacobite rebellion in 45. Very interesting. And it explains how Keith managed to get lost on the way to Fort Augustus! ;D

[luzula]

You can figure out the general location from the prologue, though it doesn't quite make sense (I'm not sure if you could see Ben Tee from where it is on the map)? Ha ha, I've been looking at maps so much while writing.

Yeah, people often take the existence of maps for granted, but someone had to spend a lot of time making them, and I guess the reason for doing that was usually either military, or for taxation purposes.