Unlocking the story behind old bestseller set on Grantown's doorstep
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Grantown Museum is this weekend celebrating the centenary of a hugely popular novel in its day which was set on the town's doorstep.
The Key above the Door , written by Irish novelist Maurice Walsh in 1922 is a romantic tale, much loved in its day that puts Strathspey's landscape at its very heart.
The setting is Tirriebeg, a forgotten croft and now just a pile of rocks by spectacular Lochindorb .
To celebrate its 100th year and for Scotland’s Year of Stories, Grantown Museum is revisiting past lives, fictional and real of the people and stories of Dava moor.
Museum curator Dan Cottam said: "Many people will remember the novel as Maurice Walsh’s popularity didn’t wain until the 1970s.
"He is best known through the John Wayne film ‘A Quiet Man’ which is based on his book.
"We thought that Scotland’s Year of Stories would be a great time to highlight the book, given its local connection and it was a happy coincidence that it was its 100th anniversary.
"Walsh was an excise man here in Scotland and stayed with the Frasers at Tirriebeg during the war and many of his characters are based on real people from around there.
"He wrote the book on his return to Ireland and its full of nostalgia for the people and landscape of Dava moor.
"It's great to be retelling the story and exploring the area through an old-fashioned lens. We held a very popular exhibition on the Dava last year but due to the pandemic didn’t get a chance to have public events.
"This gives us that opportunity and we are excited to have talks, walks and even eat cake while listening to the landscape come alive through Walsh’s words.’
The museum is hosting a talk on the history of the Dava with historian Dr Charles Fletcher tomorrow (Friday) and then a coffee morning with readings from the book on Saturday and then on Sunday there will be a walk taking in some of the places in the book.
The story will then be retold in a serialised podcast available on the museum website.
