Black Friday

The true story of a small fishing village in 19th century Scotland and the deadly storm that left tragedy in its wake is recounted in this "gripping read" (Scotsman, UK).

On October 14th, 1881, a severe windstorm struck the southeastern coast of Scotland, devastating fishing communities throughout the region. In all, 189 fishermen were lost in a single afternoon. 129 of them hailed from the village of Eyemouth. In Black Friday, Scottish historian Peter Aitchison recounts the astonishing story of that storm and its tragic aftermath.


Aitchison combines larger historical context with personal accounts of fishermen caught in the maelstrom and their families waiting anxiously for news. It is a story of a poor community driven to desperate measures by an onerous tithe system, and a time when Eyemouth was the center of a massive smuggling ring. As a direct descendent of the community, Aitchison does more than simply spin a good yarn. He offers rare insight into how these fishermen plied their trade, led their lives and met their fate.

Black Friday was previously published as Children of the Sea.