Books & Magazines about Soay Sheep

There are a number of books referencing Soay sheep, many of which are listed here.  See our Books & Magazines page to find books on general sheep management, farming organically or on grass in particular, as well as fleece production and breeding systems.

Books about Soay sheep:

• Black Sheep of Windermere, A History of the St Kilda or Hebridean Sheep, by David Kinsman, forward by the Prince of Wales.  While not specifically about Soay sheep, this book has enough references and information about this rare breed to make it worth adding to your Soay library.
  

• Island Survivors: The Ecology of the Soay Sheep of St Kilda. Edited by P. A. Jewell, C. Milner and J. M. Boyd, forward by Sir Frank Fraser Darling.  Long out  of print, considered the "bible" of Soay shepherds.
  

• Soay Sheep: Dynamics and Selection in an Island Population. Edited by Tim Clutton-Brock and Josephine Pemberton.  An excellent reference for Soay sheep enthusiasts.
  

• St Kilda and other Hebridean Outliers, by Francis Thompson.  With detailed information about geology and history, this is an eye opening read about the difficult life of the islanders of St Kilda as well as inhabitants of other remote islands off the coasts of Scotland.
  

• St Kilda, Island on the Edge of the World, by Charles Maclean.  A fascinating read about the people of St Kilda, with just a few pages regarding Soay sheep.
  

• St Kilda, The Continuing Story of the Islands. Edited by Meg Buchanan.  Filled with wonderful photographs, and an introduction by Meg Buchanan, this volume also includes the following essays: The History of St Kilda by Mary Harman, The Study of Buildings by Geoffrey Stell, The Archaeology of St Kilda by Norman Emery and Alex Morrison, Bird and Marine Life by Mark Tasker, Soay Sheep by Peter Jewell, and St Kilda - Exploring the Future by John C. Smyth. 
  

Breeding systems:

• A Conservation Breeding Handbook, by D. Phillip Sponenberg and Carolyn J. Christman
  

Fiction, referencing Soay sheep or Hirta:

• The Druid's Gift, by Margaret J. Anderson
  

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