Historical debut novel about Charles Mackay – stage star and favourite comedian of Sir Walter Scott – published by Helen Graham (x5 great niece)
THE laughter and tragedy of a stage star of the 1800s and favourite comedian of Scots author, poet and historian Sir Walter Scott is back in the spotlight thanks to a new book about his life.
The Real Mackay is set in the world of theatre in early 19th century Edinburgh and tells the story of author Helen Graham’s five times great uncle Charles Mackay.
He was a real favourite with Walter Scott and arguably Scotland's foremost comedian of his time.
If you’ve ever wondered where the phrase the Real Mackay came from - or maybe you think it should be the Real McCoy - Helen has pieced together snippets of family history into her debut historical novel.
A former Kingussie resident and co-founder of the popular Food on Film festival, Helen has spent the past few years unravelling a clue passed down through generations of her family.
She happily acknowledges the phrase may have been in use even further back by the Mackay clan referring to a child of two Mackay parents, but she’s confident that the first time it was popularised and subsequently entered the vernacular was in the 1820s in Scotland in reference to an on-stage incident involving Charles.
On Thursday, June 27 Helen will be visiting Nairn Bookshop, Under the Leaves in Forres (early afternoon), Logie steading books and The Bookmark in Grantown.
Her debut historical novel tells the story of how Mackay and his family dealt with his extraordinary rise to fame and his long career on stage.
‘I began researching my ancestors about 12 years ago, shortly before I moved to Edinburgh, and discovered the story of Charles Mackay which had been passed down the family as a tantalising soundbite for generations. Before long I was hooked and decided to write a book. It’s been an incredible journey, gathering everything I could find about him from all manner of documents, books and letters over about seven years and weaving it all into a story.’
While Mackay enjoyed a long career on stage, he suffered personal tragedy, losing his mother, wife and daughter, while they were all still young.
The Scottish National Library has proved a very useful resource, alongside information many other organisations and universities have generously made available on the internet. Helen was also thrilled to discover a painting of Mackay hanging at Walter Scott’s home, Abbotsford, and another portrait, belonging to the National Portrait Gallery, which makes an eye-catching front cover to the book.
The adoption of the phrase ‘The Real Mackay’ by Scottish whisky company ‘Mackay and Co’ didn’ happen until 1870, 13 years after Mackay had died and the phrasing had been long been popularised. It soon found its way to America, along with the whisky, where it had been transformed into The Real McCoy by the prohibition era of the 1920s.
Helen launched her book with Golden Hare Books at St Vincent’s Chapel, Stockbridge, on June 18.
She was part of the Kingussie Festival of Words on June 21 and on Wednesday, June 26 she was in Mackay Country in the very far north for an event at Strathnaver Museum. Professor Sir Iain Torrance, former chair of The Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club said: ‘I loved it. I was hooked by the historical record and superb love story Helen’s tenacious research and innovative imagination deliver. She has done her ancestor proud.’
Published by Troubador, the book and e-version are at https://mybook.to/u3DrXD
