The Uncommon Herd

William Presslie's "The Uncommon Herd" brings the mid 19th Century rural poor of Aberdeenshire, Scotland to life. It is difficult to judge which was harder, the day to day unremarked cruelty of schooling or the unrelenting demands of labour on farms, in all weathers and all seasons. William's story is true history populated by remarkable characters from Wellington's disabled soldier, become schoolteacher, to the beautiful Belle and her successful elopement with the unknown lover. We learn how farm servants entertained themselves, in those days long before Radio and TV, with stories, songs, poetry and occasional dancing to the fiddle. Despite his hugely disrupted education it becomes clear that William's future lies in the pursuits of the intellect rather than the physical. Having built a of reputation for intelligence, reliability and perseverance, a previous employer recommends William for the position of man-servant to John Gordon of Cairnbulg in the House of Leask. Everything falls into place. Upstairs, Downstairs or connected to the House of Leask are various characters who through William's prose again engage, amuse or even outrage, our sensibilities. William himself embarks on an upwardly mobile learning curve, which will lead him from the Croft, eventually to the Manse, via his own Schoolroom, all achieved with dedication and some help from the influential Gordon family.