Paul Bommer: Whisky Galore

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Whisky Galore

cover

A lovely commission I put to bed a month or two back for a new hardback edition of Sir Compton Mackenzie's classic tale, set during World War II, whereby a cargo vessel (the S.S. Cabinet Minister) is wrecked off a remote fictional Hebridean island group — Great Todday and Little Todday — with fifty thousand cases of whisky aboard! Celtic cunning is pitted against Sassanach censorship.
Published by Birlinn.

My idea for the cover was a deathly quiet, almost dour, view of the islands in the background and a vignette, in the form of a bottle of single malt Uisce Bea'tha, containing all the 'spirit' of the islanders at a ceilidh within it. I'd seen the film as a kid but I'd not read the book at that point. But I have now and its a cracking good read at that.

I really enjoyed this job and think that shows...

Cover detail

Whisky Galore

5 comments:

Lynn said...: Great cover!; October 23, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Besheer A. Abbaro said...: Lovely cover Paul, reminds me of those 1950's Penquin editions. Very Nice!; October 23, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Paul Bommer said...: Thanks so much Lynn and Besheer, your kind words are very much appreciated.
Paul B x; October 24, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Clive Hicks-Jenkins said...: Fantastic commission and a wonderfully spirited response. You hit absolutely the right note, catching the quality of the past when the book was written, and the contemporary aspect of revisiting from the perspective of the present. Perfect. Congratulations!; November 1, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Clive Hicks-Jenkins said...: PS: who published this and when will I be able to get a copy?; November 1, 2012 at 10:09 AM