The
Book
*****
'Bervie and Beyond' by Colin W Thom
reaches back to the early 1700s and into the lives of the
author’s paternal ancestry in North East Scotland, and then
endeavours to trace the lives of all his fellow descendants
through to around the mid-1900s. It tells the story of a not
very successful smuggler who turned legitimate and established
the first linen mill in Scotland. It progresses to his son
Walter, who published several books in the early 1800s before
being lured to Ireland by Chief Secretary Robert Peel to
publish the Dublin Journal newspaper. It was the next
generation, however, that brought real success.
*****
Alex Thom developed what was
to become the leading Irish printing company, culminating in
appointment as the country’s Queen’s Printer. Alex amassed a
huge personal fortune which enabled him to establish his
beloved Thom’s Directory. By his own efforts, it grew in
content and stature, and quickly became the primary reference
source for all things Irish. It was his greatest achievement,
and the Irish nation will forever remember him for it. But
wealth and a second marriage created downsides, with family
divisions and a widow who took "spreading the joy" (to other
than family) to a new art form. In the following generations
we learn of a suicide, successful migration to Argentina and
South Africa, and in The Antipodes, destitution.*****
*****
The publisher writes "Skillfully
written, highly imaginative and extremely interesting, 'Bervie
and Beyond' is an engaging book that offers many enthralling
and appealing moments to which readers of all backgrounds,
ages and interests will be able to relate".
*****
The
Author
*****
As a mechanical engineer
with a major motor vehicle manufacturer, Colin Thom over the
years was appointed to long-term postings in the UK, South
America and Asia. This provided him with the opportunity of
visiting distant relatives who otherwise would have remained
virtual strangers or at best, correspondents. His research
continued spasmodically until retirement in 2005, when he
re-established a keen interest in genealogy, and the desire to
record his family’s history for posterity. Colin is married to
Shirley; they live on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Their son and daughter both are married, and they are
grandparents to two boys. Colin is an avid supporter of
Geelong Football Club; he plays tennis regularly, and has a
now-passive interest in classic cars.
Information
****
The book,
published in 2013, is available from many of the usual
websites in paperback, hardback and e-book forms. It's ISBN
numbers are as follows:
*****
ISBN 13 (TP):
978-1-4797-8122-5
ISBN 13 (HB): 978-1-4797-8123-2
ISBN
13 (Ebook): 978-1-4797-8124-9
*****
Please click
here to
visit the publisher's website.
****
Note: none of the
above should be taken as a recommendation from the Clan
Society.
