Book Review: The Secret History of Here

The Secret History of Here by Alistair Moffat

The Secret History of Here is an interesting and very personal book. It is a diary of daily life with a twist that draws you in, centred on a small farm in Scotland, progressively revealing its history together with the seasons. 

This is a story of a single place, a farm in the Scottish Borders where historian and author Alistair Moffat’s lives.  The farm has been occupied for 300 generations since pre-historic times and his fields have turned up ancient arrow heads, stone spindles, silver pennies and various relics.

The Secret History of Here is also the story of everywhere and by uncovering the history of one piece of land, Moffat shows how history is all around us if we have the eyes to see it. Under our feet, carved into the landscape, in the layout of paths and roads, in the stories we pass down, our history leaves its trace on the land.  

The Secret History of Here is essentially a journal of a year, but it is as much a story of the centuries as the seasons.  It is a diary recording Moffat’s life in the country centered around his early morning walks his fields and woods, notebook and pencil in his pocket and his young West Highland terrier, Maidee, at his heels. 

Through his walks, Moffat muses about life and makes observations out of the enduring history of the land to climate change while observing the rhythms of days and seasons. He feels the presence of history everywhere and imagines those who preceded him in this place.  He and his friends theorize about the land beneath their feet and draw upon maps and objects to confirm their suspicions and uncover the histories they reveal.  “Every place has its history, its secrets”.

Ultimately, The Secret History of Here is a book about time and nature:
“Instead of looking at my wrist to discover the time of day... it occurred to me that I should look up at the sky, sense the shift of the weather, the seasons, and glory in the day.” - Alistair Moffat

This is an unexpectantly good book. It not only a relaxing therapeutic read, it conveys a natural sense of place and the enduring continuity between our land and history. It is also about slowing down, looking up and freeing your mind. 

@ Black Teal Bay book rating: 8.5/10