Otterly incorrect

Keith Brown should stick to his ministerial transport responsibilities, for he clearly has little knowledge of Scottish literature, in particular Gavin Maxwell and his beautiful otter story Ring of Bright Water, (“Bright future as Eilean Ban remains in public hands”, 29 September).

In claiming the glory for Eilean Ban – the small island lying between Skye and Kyle of Lochalsh – being retained in public ownership, Brown states that it inspired Maxwell “to create one of the world’s most famous wildlife stories”.

Really? Mij the otter, which lies at the centre of Maxwell’s famous book was killed in the 1950s. The book was written several years later at Sandaig on the west coast mainland, where the author lived and Mij died, and published in 1960. Maxwell’s other otter book, The Rocks Remain, published a few years later, is also based on his life at Sandaig.

Maxwell bought Eilean Ban, renovated the cottages on the island and moved there in the late 1960s. He did not write any otter books there or enjoy life on the island for very long, as he died of cancer in 1969.

David Thompson MSP, also quoted in your piece, makes similar claims to his SNP colleague Keith Brown. As a Highland MSP, he should know better the recent cultural history of his community. Don’t politicians have enough to do without rewriting history?

Dick Mungin

Roshven

West Highlands