Searching for the Finmen

[Richard Barrett]

I am loving this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Searching-Finme ... 629&sr=8-1 and have great respect for Norman for having the courage to self publish it.

[Chris Bolton]

Looks very interesting - but the link says it's not published yet? Have you managed to get a pre-publication copy?

I wonder if Norman will publish it electronically as well?

Chris

[Richard Barrett]

Just do a search on Amazon - that's where I got it from

[Baldy-Old-Troll]

Amazon is currently saying that the book hasn't been released yet, but it's on the shelf in Waterstones.


Stuart.

[Norman Rogers]

It's very heartening to see a positive response to the book from someone I don't know. Thanks for that!
The book has been published and is available at most online bookshops and a few independent booksellers, including Waterstones in Scotland.
I told the publisher not to supply Amazon on the grounds that they don't pay tax in the UK by virtue of some sort of offshore skulduggery, even though 25% of all book sales in the UK now go through Amazon. That makes me feel a little sick!
They managed to get hold of a few copies before the prohibition kicked in, and now they try to put potential buyers off by posting that it has not been published yet.

[chillipepper]

cheers for the tip, going to get myself a copy

[Baldy-Old-Troll]

Thanks for the response Norman ,I'll pickup my copy from Waterstones next time I'm in Braehead, I normally buy from Amazon due to price, but I respect your point.

Stuart.

[lg18]

Wow, thanks for alerting us to this book!
I have seen the kayak in question, and have researched (online) as much as I can about this bloke in his kayak that landed nr Aberdeen, and also scanned the literature for records of the "Finn men" that occasionally turned up in Orkney and also Shetland and W Ireland. (Aparently the locals would sometimes row out to try to communicate with them, but the Finnmen sped off at a speed thought impossible!). Also records off Norway, possibly of "escapees" from whalers that "stole" them and then released them before returning home (as it was illegal) (or the Inuit escaped...?). This is an absolutely fascinating subject and can't wait to get the book - thanks to Norman for writing it! (I'm not going to wait for Xmas!).

Thanks so much for posting!

Lucy

[Norman Rogers]

Thanks for the positive response everyone. Much appreciated!
Norman

[lg18]

In case anyone is interested, I've just come across this fascinating website, which has various pages on the "Finmen" (i.e. sealskin clad men in kayaks) including descriptions of sightings in Orkney, and how Finmen, selkies and mermaids may merge into one and the same thing.
http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/selki ... rigin5.htm

[Mark R]

I have ordered a copy...hoping it will give me a good Historical account of these strange visitations. I did once read a book which tackled the topic from a distinctly 'Fortean Times' perspective...not really my thing.

[mazzazza]

There is a very interesting podcast on the subject at http://www.seakayakpodcasts.com/Main.html

[lg18]

The Finnmen journey is currently being replicated (sort of) by Olly Hicks and George Bullard ("Wake of the Finmen"), from Greenland to Scotland.
They started out from Greenland on 1st July 2016 and are currently about to hit Iceland...

https://www.gramwire.com/greenlandtoscotland

http://www.ollyhicks.com/greenland-to-s ... challenge/

Lucy

[dhkayaking]

Norman,

I have heard great things about your book Unfortunately I haven't managed to get a copy yet but a quick google search and I am sure you will be glad to see its fetching nearly $800 on some site! :)
I might look for a cheaper copy.
http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9 ... _sr=impact

[uxb]

It's a very good book. Entertaining and educational.

[jmmoxon]

Olly Hicks & George Bullard's film:
https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1NBYKYF ... he-finnmen

[Northern Blue]

Olly Hicks & George Bullard's film:
https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1NBYKYF ... he-finnmen

Thoroughly enjoyable film.... Thanks !

I hadn't heard the story of 'The Finmen' prior to this thread being resurrected, so I'm looking forward to having a read of Norman Rogers' book.

[Robert Craig]

Olly Hicks & George Bullard's film:
https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1NBYKYF ... he-finnmen

Really good film thanks, though only passing references to Inuit paddling. The book needs to be read as well.

[charleston14]

Theres a few copies at not totally bonkers prices on amazon at the moment.

[charleston14]

Thought I’d sell my copy, it’s signed by the author read twice condition . And cheaper than on Amazon

£15 posted to UK mainland, more for elsewhere etc

Pm me if you want it.

Will do straight swap for Doug coopers book rough water handling

[seanyshortlegs]

You have pm

[jmmoxon]

In "The People of the Sea" (1954), David Thomson conducted a series of interviews during the 1940s & 50s with Celtic people about selkies (grey seals), which included this discussion on North Ronaldsay, Orkney:
I said, 'In Shetland they told me the seals were Norway Finns.' But they all denied this strongly. Margaret Fea shook her head.
'Na, na,' she said. 'The Finn men were real men. They came over from Norway and places the like o' that long ago. They came after fish in their canoes.'
'There was nothing wrong about the Finn men,' said Osie, 'only that they had the power to cure the toothache and the eczema, and the redwater and the strangles and the like o' yon. That was how the people came to think they had magic.'
'They could row nine miles with one stroke of an oar,' I said, for I had heard that somewhere. The idea appealed to Jimmy and he began to speak, but Osie interrupted him.
'The Finn men were aye on the top of the water,' he said, 'but the seals were below. And what's below the water no man could tell.'

& a further mixing of fact with legend:
www.uhi.ac.uk/en/research-enterprise/cu ... e-finnfolk

Mike

[jmmoxon]

This website also suggests they were Sea Sami from Lapland, rather than Greenland:
http://www.elisabethgifford.com/blog/20 ... lkie-story

http://www.strangehistory.net/2013/02/0 ... in-orkney/

Although I'm also not aware of any proof that they definitely had kayaks (see comments by Alaistair MacIntosh & MBC):
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2016/03/3 ... i-peoples/

& one early recorder linked them to the Inuit:
https://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/201 ... d-in-1682/

Mike

[jmmoxon]

The link to film I posted previously still works (although their website has been updated)