Going Abroad: the Macgibbon Family And Other Early Scottish Emigrants To Otago And Southland, New Zealand by John MacGibbon

IN THE MIDDLE of last century, 'Going Abroad' could be the 'nice' way of saying you were emigrating from Scotland. It's also the title of a book which takes a fresh look at the Pilgrim Fathers of the 19th century – those determined men and and their wives from the breakaway Free Church of Scotland who sailed to a new life in the furthest outpost of the British Empire: New Zealand. 258 pages, 136 illustrations, 99 photos, 10 maps, bibliography and full index. 'It is a commonplace to say that if we want to know where we are, then knowing where we have been is crucial, but it is also a commonplace worth reasserting from time to time, and this book reasserts it with considerable skill. If you want to know what brought your ancestors here...this is the one...a fascinating and detailed picture.' Historian Tony Simpson, in New Zealand Books. 'John MacGibbon shows other family historians how it should be done in this excellent publication. What makes the work stand out is his concerted attempt to place the story of one family in its broader context. MacGibbon goes to considerable pains to sketch in the Scottish/Glaswegian background to emigration and then pays the same attention to the history of early Otago/Southland. This intriguing tale of social mobility is supplemented by many well chosen illustrations, including photographs, maps, lithographs, cartoons and drawings which amplify the text and deepen the sense of context. Obituaries, advertisements and posters add to the feel and texture of the period under discussion. Overall, the thoroughly professional design of the book greatly enhances its appeal.' (Tom Brooking, Associate Professor of History, University of Otago, in the Electronic Journal of Australian and New Zealand History) 'This is not a book I expected to interest me greatly - I'm Irish after all, not Scots, but I was wrong...full of interest, information and humour...great fun, great read, absolutely fascinating...I thoroughly recommend this book.' (Brian Edwards, Top 'o the Morning programme, New Zealand National Radio.). This 1997 Ngaio Press, Wellington, New Zealand Paperback is in very good condition. Soft crease in front cover.

ISBN: 9780473047528 SKU: 1549818 Note: Any image shown is from a stock photo and is not the actual book.