A book that has its origins in the 19th century has been launched at the City Chambers in Dunfermline.
John Orrason or the Adventures of a Social Castaway a west Fife story, was written by Daniel Thomson as a serial for the Dunfermline Press over six months in 1897.
Jean Barclay has typed it up from the newspaper, lightly edited it and added a few notes and a glossary of Scottish words.
Dr Barclay said, “The book is a tale of mystery, romance and adventure which takes the hero, John Orrason, from rejection by his wealthy family to infancy in North Queensferry, to childhood as a charity boy in Glasgow.
“Then it features his work as a weaver and carpenter in Kirkcaldy, to him being press-ganged and forced to go to sea for many years and finally back to Scotland, getting married.”
“The book is presented as a tribute to Daniel Thomson, who rose from a poverty-stricken childhood to become a respected factory manager, a director of the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society, an author and local historian. Mr Thomson was fully credited with the original authorship.”
The launch was attended by Margaret Dean, Lord Lieutenant of Fife, and representatives of Fife Council.
Mr Rosiejak said, “Dunfermline Heritage Community Projects have worked tirelessly on a brand new project to produce, in book form for the first time ever John Orrason, the captivating life and times of one of our west Fife hidden gems.
“The book is based on a true story, the exciting tale of a castaway child and his adventures in life. From his mysterious birth, his infant days in North Queensferry and his schooling in Glasgow, the story moves to Kirkcaldy where John was a young apprentice.
“Torn away by the press gang, he begins a life of adventure on the seas which takes him to the bloody siege of Algiers and to several years of pursuing slave traders off the coast of west Africa and in the West Indies. He finally returns to his beloved Scotland to settle down and marry a former sweetheart and to investigate the enigma of his birth.
“What is evident is the great community and partnership work that has taken place in order to bring such a magical figure back to life for us to celebrate and appreciate.”The book has been published under Dunfermline Heritage Community Projects (DHCP) and received a culture grant from Fife Council, along with a grant from Celebrating Fife 2010.