True story of Kidnapped given festival launch

The inspiration behind one of the world’s best-loved adventure stories will be revealed at a book launch in Benderloch.

Author Lachie Munro will be bringing his new book The Scenery of Dreams – the true story of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped – to Bookends Festival at the Victory Hall on Saturday September 29 at 7pm.

His book traces what inspired Stevenson to write the book, filled with amazing real-life characters such as Cluny MacPherson, Rob Roy’s wild sons and, of course, the legendary Alan Breck, accused of the mysterious Appin Murder.

Lachie was born in Stirlingshire but is of Highland parentage, having spent part of his youth in the Black Isle where he was immersed in Highland culture and folklore.

His first book in 2017 was An Eagle In A HenHouse: Selected Political Speeches & Writings of R. B. Cunninghame Graham.

He currently lives in London with his wife Lesley, who is the managing editor of Hansard in The House of Lords, an institution that he says he would like to abolish ‘as soon as the mortgage is paid off’.

Bookends founder Joy Cameron said: ‘He is an entertaining guy with a huge interest in bringing Highland

history and culture alive instead of it being smothered in tartan and shortbread courtesy of the good old Victorians.’

Lachie trained as an interior designer in Glasgow before moving to London where he worked for BBC Television before setting up his own design company working for major retailers. He has also worked extensively in Eastern Europe and is a visiting lecturer in The British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow. During a five-year period when he returned to Scotland to live in Bridge of Allan, he went back to university and has a first-class honours degrees in history and in political philosophy. He is currently completing a PhD in history and literature at Glasgow University.

Other events during the festival, which starts on Saturday September 22, include Wurdplay, a writers’ open mic at the Victory Hall hosted by Jamie Livingstone at 7.30pm, entry is by donation.

Oban Phoenix Cinema is also getting involved in the festival and will be showing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society on Monday September 24. Go to obanphoenix.com or call 01631 562905 for screening and price details.

A whole week of fringe events are planned from Monday October 1 to Friday October 5. To find out more go to bookends.scot