William Daniell, born in 1769, was an accomplished artist in oils and watercolours, and matchless in the magical process of aquatint engraving. John Garvey's first encounter with Daniell's work was in 1969, when he first held a Daniell aquatint print in his hands, of the spectacular mountain, Bla Bheinn, part of the Cuillins on the Isle of Skye. He was overwhelmed by the composition of the view, the black threatening profile of the mountain dwarfing the people and boats on Loch Slapin below. Here, Garvey brings together 17 aquatint prints and 10 pencil sketches from the Hebridean islands of Eigg, Rum, Skye and Raasay, and photographs showing these views as they are today. He takes the reader along the route of Daniell's journey in 1815, using the artist's words and those of contemporary travellers, such as Walter Scott and Dr John McCullock, to describe the scenery and the condition of the people. He puts greatest emphasis on the celebration of Daniell's skill as an artist, but additionally gives his journey historic perspective.