What do you think?
Rate this book
Nairn in Darkness and Light
Set in the 1920s, this memoir of David Thomson's childhood in Scotland recreates the varied community of Nairn, charts the author's formative years and recalls the town's involvement in many significant events of Scottish history.
- GenresNonfiction
Hardcover
First published March 1, 1987
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
David Thomson
11 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Thomson (1914 – 1988) was a writer and BBC radio producer. He was born in British colonial India to Scottish parents. As a child, he lived in Scotland, as well as in Derbyshire and London, where he attended University College School.
From 1943 to 1969 Thomson worked for the BBC as a writer and producer of radio documentaries. Many of these programs, which covered a range of topics in natural history of peoples and places also found a place in his written work, for example The People of the Sea (1954), on the lore and life of the grey seal in the coastal rural communities of Ireland and Scotland. In 1953-4 he was seconded to UNESCO to produce radio programs in France, Liberia and Turkey.
Among his most notable works are three moving memoirs: Woodbrook (1974), reflecting a ten-year period from 1932 when he visited Ireland regularly, tutoring Phoebe Kirkwood; In Camden Town (1983), describing his life and neighbors in London in the 1950s and 60's; and Nairn in Darkness and Light (1987), where he revisits his childhood years spent in his mother's home in Scotland.
David Thomson (1914 – 1988) was a writer and BBC radio producer. He was born in British colonial India to Scottish parents. As a child, he lived in Scotland, as well as in Derbyshire and London, where he attended University College School.
From 1943 to 1969 Thomson worked for the BBC as a writer and producer of radio documentaries. Many of these programs, which covered a range of topics in natural history of peoples and places also found a place in his written work, for example The People of the Sea (1954), on the lore and life of the grey seal in the coastal rural communities of Ireland and Scotland. In 1953-4 he was seconded to UNESCO to produce radio programs in France, Liberia and Turkey.
Among his most notable works are three moving memoirs: Woodbrook (1974), reflecting a ten-year period from 1932 when he visited Ireland regularly, tutoring Phoebe Kirkwood; In Camden Town (1983), describing his life and neighbors in London in the 1950s and 60's; and Nairn in Darkness and Light (1987), where he revisits his childhood years spent in his mother's home in Scotland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 21, 2025
Contains the lyrical prose he used in Woodbrook, with some great passages describing a cross section of Scottish life. However he told me more about Culloden than I wanted to know.
Some maddening omissions. What happened with his eyesight?
Some maddening omissions. What happened with his eyesight?
May 14, 2023
I like the way how the author described his childhood in Nair and I also apretiated the descriprion of the places that are very close to my heart.
December 16, 2023
Thomson has quite astonishing powers of recall from his childhood. Unfortunately this isn't matched by a prose style that grips. The words lie dead on the page - at least for me.
November 7, 2010
LOVED it! All about Nairn & surrounding areas, & the Cameron of Lochiel clan - the one we're connected with!
August 26, 2012
nice writing style. very evocative of the time period.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews