Dark Stuff, The

This is an examination of the moorland, ranging from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and even Australia. Here Donald S Murray explores moorland in all its different guises and rolls and considers its scientific, aesthetic and preservative qualities, reflecting on how for centuries humans have represented it in literature, art and folk tales, and revealing both its industrial heritage and how we still use and abuse it today. In particular, this book examines the politics of ownership and the way Europe's moorlands in particular have been emplyed for punitive purposes and in rebellions against the state authority. Weaving in childhood memories and his experiences from the Isle of Lewis, Murray investigates the histories of these locations and confronts some of the darker realities of how European moorland has been employed in recent events and examines the current social and political debate surrounding our moors.