Gavin Maxwell's Long Room in Eilean Ban

Paul Murton visits Eilean Ban, once home to Gavin Maxwell.
From BBC Grand Tours Of The Scottish Islands. Episode 6, Skye Against The Odds, 2010.

[@charlesrae3793]

Wonderful to see it after having read so much about it, lately Dan Boothby's Island of dreams. What a complex character Maxwell was; anyone wanting to know more should read Douglas Botting's masterly biography or Richard Frere's book Maxwell's ghost.

[@tw....]

The unknown painting.....painted by Maxwell (signed on rear) around c1952/3 I think....the subject is a young man known only as Tomas, although that may not have been his real name.He came to uk as a refugee before the war..Introduced to Maxwell by former love interest Clement Glock/Davenport.( She was an artist /scenery painter at royal opera House)....Initially Tomas was meant as a sitter for a painting Gavin was starting ,to run alongside Kathleen Raine's new poetry, entitled...sleeper at the Rowan's foot/ Northumberland sequence...because he looked like Clement..sharp features and flowing blonde hair Gavin became smitten....Amongst other places he accompanied Gavin to Sicily for research into Gavin's forthcoming book about Sicilian bandits...As with a lot of Gavin's relationships it didn't end well....Tomas was a highly intelligent young man( chess champion) with a strong sense of self, and he wouldn't allow Gavin to mould him in the way he wanted.

[@fionamacleod9895]

I am so disappointed in Paul Morton’s visit. He clearly had undertaken no real research. His sniggers and his disparaging comments - for whatever reason - are so inappropriate and inaccurate. The fact that the guide is unable to challenge this doesn’t help. Gavin Maxwell was a hugely complex man - which Murton acknowledges in passing but clearly didn’t see fit to investigate prior to making such broad, sweeping comments.

[@ronninj]

Unfortunate amount of silly comments and giggling by Paul Murton here. Gavin was Gavin...have respect and please don't ever dis-respect or label the man; the brilliant intelligence and mind of our dear Gavin Maxwell cannot be understood or communicated by minds such as these 'presenters'. Gavin was a genius, and has been latterly utterly misunderstood via such attempts as this.

[@MsMesem]

Troubled? If he was stand-offish it meant he did not want to be troubled by others. Those who would want to label him, such as this woman. Why do you have make him fit a profile? He was just who he was.

[@margaretlavender9647]

How come this speaker had no idea Gavin was aristocratic? That his mother was a daughter of the Duke of Northumberland? And his Maxwell ancestors go back 1000 years. This interviewer is an utter ignoramus. Why is he doing this presentation??