21 May 2001

A history student at the University of Dundee sees his first full length book published this month. Malcolm Archibald, who expects to graduate in July, completed the volume while in his second year at university. Now the book is being considered by the history department for inclusion on course reading lists.

Privateers and "packet rats", sugar and slaves... the colourful range of characters and chapters in the history of the North Atlantic Ocean is brought to life in Across the Pond published by Whittles Publishing.

As a postman in the Borders, Malcolm was captivated with history to the extent that he took courage, gave up his job, and pursued the hobby into higher education. Malcolm was accepted into the University of Dundee's energetic history department as a mature student and moved to Dundee with his wife, daughter and son. It was while pursuing a course on American studies there - researching Columbus, Spanish galleys, whalers, slavers and the tobacco trade - that Malcolm found himself drawn further and further into the fascinating world of the North Atlantic.

"Today we think of it as a geographical boundary or barrier but in the past it was a thoroughfair and a market place. The more I researched the more impressed I was with the impact of the sea on the people. The sea was central to people's lives."

Instead of turning out an essay on the subject the second year student ended up writing a book.

Among those who particularly captivated Malcolm were the "Packet rats" - hardy Liverpool men who would board the packet ships bound for New York in their bare feet with nothing more than a knife and a little food if they were lucky. "They were a tough bunch but hard working and the subject of many a line of doggerel verse."

Now Malcolm is exploring the history of whaling for his fourth year dissertation. This is his sixth publication, but his first full length book.