Compton Mackenzie was a major literary figure and a staunch Scottish nationalist. He was born into a theatrical family, educated at St Paul’s School and Magdalen College, Oxford. Trained as a lawyer, he abandoned this career in order to write his first play, ‘The Gentleman in Grey’ (1907). His first novel, ‘The Passionate Elopement’ was published in 1911. The writer’s autobiographical ‘Sinister Street’ followed and was hailed as a work of genius by fellow authors, including Henry James. During the 1914-18 war he served in the Dardanelles and as Director of the Intelligence Service in Syria. The writer subsequently came to live on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. His numerous books included ‘Whisky Galore’ (1947) and ‘Rockets Galore’ (1957).