Back cover text:

1767. Alba an dèidh Chùil Lodair agus atharrachaidh - ean mòra a’ dol air adhart ann an Dùn Èideann agus ann an Raineach, Siorrachd Pheairt. Tha Dùghall Bochanan, Mairead, a bhean, agus seachdnar de theaghlach a’ fuireach ann an taigh ùr ann an Ceann Loch Raineach. Dachaigh leis gach cofhurtachd agus le similear ann an stuadh an taighe. Nuair a thilleas Dùghall a Cheann Loch Raineach an dèidh crìoch a chur air obair ann an Dùn Èideann, tha a h-uile coltas ann gum bi làithean geala romhpa. Agus, bithidh, anns a’ chiad shamhradh. Ach, anns an dàrna samhradh, thig rathad ùr bhon àird an ear gu Raineach. Agus maille ris, thig rudeigin ris nach robh iad an dùil, rudeigin a dh’atharraicheas am beatha gu bràth.

’S e Mairead Bhochanan a tha a’ toirt sùil air ais air beatha an duine aice – Dùghall Bochanan, bàrd, tidsear agus eadar-theangaiche. Chuir e gu mòr ri tionndadh an Tiomnaidh Nuaidh bhon Ghreugais gu Gàidhlig na h-Alba. Ach, aig deireadh an latha, ’s e sgeul Mairead cho math ri sgeul Dhùghaill a tha ann.

It is 18th century Scotland, twenty years after the Battle of Culloden. Schoolteacher and poet Dugald Buchanan lives in a rapidly changing nation, with new developments shaping areas as diverse as medicine, agriculture, the Church and, of course, the Gaelic language.  

Dugald’s major contribution to the first translation of the New Testament into Gaelic – as well as his own popular poems Spiritual Songs – would have lasting influence in the Gaelic community for years to come. In Two Summers in Rannoch, however, Dugald’s wife Margaret relates the last two years of Dugald’s life, and tells an intimate story of the tragic events which shaped their family alongside her husband’s successes.